New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing criticism over a statement he issued marking the third anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, with critics saying his remarks shifted quickly from acknowledging Jewish losses to criticizing Israel’s conduct in the war that followed.
In his statement, Mamdani referred to the “unthinkable loss” suffered three years ago before turning to criticism of Israel’s military response, drawing condemnation from Jewish groups and others who said the framing was inappropriate for the anniversary.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has also come under scrutiny for her response. When asked by the New York Post whether she had any objection to Mamdani’s statement, a spokesman for the governor pointed to comments she made on CBS, where she was asked whether she agreed that Israel’s response was the bigger wrong.
Hochul initially said, “That day speaks for itself,” before adding that she had called for more humanitarian aid to reach Gaza “to avoid any loss of civilian life,” and said that aid was not provided. “I understand the anxiety and the frustration around that experience,” she said.
Claims of famine in Gaza have been widely disputed, and Israel has said it allowed substantial amounts of aid into the territory, though reports indicate much of it was diverted by Hamas.
Protests and political reaction
Mamdani’s statement also drew protests from demonstrators who accused him of downplaying the attack. At a vigil honoring Jewish victims of Oct. 7, protesters chanted, “Zohran, you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide.” He was also confronted by protesters while dining at a Palestinian restaurant whose menu includes a section labeled “From the River to the Sea,” a phrase widely associated with calls for the elimination of the state of Israel.
Mamdani’s opponent in the November governor’s race, Republican Bruce Blakeman, has criticized the mayor over what he describes as rising antisemitism tied to his rhetoric, and has positioned himself as a candidate willing to confront Mamdani directly on the issue.
The episode has prompted broader debate in New York political circles over how officials from Mamdani to Hochul have characterized the anniversary and the war in Gaza, with critics on one side accusing the mayor of minimizing the attack and critics on the other accusing the governor of failing to clearly condemn his remarks.
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