New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Mamdani’s statement, issued as Israel and Jewish communities marked three years since the Hamas attack, acknowledged that Hamas killed more than 1,100 Israelis and abducted 251 people.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday marked the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel by condemning the killings and hostage-taking, while also accusing the Israeli government of carrying out an “ongoing genocide” in Gaza. He described the loss as “unthinkable” but said the suffering in the region “did not begin nor end” on October 7. Mamdani described the Israeli government’s military campaign as an “ongoing genocide” and also referred to alleged “war crimes”, “occupation” and “apartheid” in his statement.
Israeli officials, Jewish groups criticise Mamdani
Mamdani, who has long criticised the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza, was scheduled to attend an October 7 remembrance vigil before meeting Palestinian New Yorkers, according to reports.
“Shame on you for trying to blow a kiss and slap Israelis in the face at the same time,” Haley said in a post on X. Haley accused Hamas of having “raped, burned, and murdered Israelis and Americans” on October 7 and said hostages were kidnapped and tortured for months. The UJA-Federation of New York, JCRC-NY, AJC New York and the New York Board of Rabbis said the policy had positive elements but warned that rhetoric that “demonizes and delegitimizes Israel” could contribute to the targeting of Jewish New Yorkers.
Former US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley sharply criticised Mamdani over his remarks. The controversy comes days after Jewish organisations criticised aspects of Mamdani’s strategy to combat antisemitism in New York.