Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "has to go," Boston mayoral candidate Josh Kraft said on GBH's Boston Public Radio in an interview on Wednesday.

Kraft, the scion of the billionaire American-Jewish Kraft family with a reputation for being staunchly pro-Israel, was asked about his views on the current conflict in Gaza

While reiterating that he's a supporter of Israel, he said, "I think it's horrible what's happening now."

He further argued that the humanitarian plight facing children in Gaza due to the war is horrible, and said, "I think there needs to be a change in Israeli leadership."

He added, "I think Netanyahu has to go."

The Boston City Hall lights up in blue and white for Israel's 73rd Independence Day, April 15, 2021.
The Boston City Hall lights up in blue and white for Israel's 73rd Independence Day, April 15, 2021. (credit: FOREIGN MINISTRY)

Josh Kraft's fight for the Boston Mayor's Office

Kraft, a Democratic candidate for the Boston mayoral race, is the head of Kraft Family Philanthropies. His father, Robert Kraft, is the owner of the New England Patriots, with Josh being considered by some analysts as the prospective heir of the Kraft fortune.

If elected, Kraft will become Boston's first-ever Jewish mayor.

His opponent in the mayoral race is incumbent Michelle Wu, also a Democrat - the election is nonpartisan, so two candidates from the same party can still run - and who Kraft supported in the past. A major focus of his campaigning has been housing, highlighting the extremely high housing costs in Boston.

Kraft has entered the race, having raised millions in campaign funds and secured the endorsement of his wealthy father. Despite this, recent polling has him trailing Wu by 30%.