NYC Mayor Mamdani's Oct. 7 anniversary statement accusing Israel of genocide draws criticism
In short
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani marked the third anniversary of Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Wednesday with a statement that mourned the victims and then accused Israel of a "devastating, ongoing genocide in Gaza." The statement drew criticism from Jewish leaders, several Democratic officials and Israel's UN ambassador Danny Danon, and CNN reported that Mamdani was booed on arriving at a vigil in Union Square that night.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani marked the third anniversary of Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel on Wednesday with a statement that drew criticism from Jewish leaders, Democratic officials and Israel's ambassador to the United Nations. The statement opened by calling the day "profoundly painful for so many New Yorkers" and describing the attack as "horrific war crimes." It said Hamas killed more than 1,100 Israelis and abducted 251 others, adding: "We grieve alongside our many friends and neighbors who still carry that unthinkable loss." CBS News described the toll as about 1,200 people killed and more than 250 hostages taken. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
The statement then said "the suffering did not begin nor end that day," accusing the Israeli government of a "devastating, ongoing genocide in Gaza" that has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians, including more than 21,000 children. CBS News reported the figure comes from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry. According to CNN, the statement said more than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed since the "so-called ceasefire," and that "our tax dollars fund these war crimes." Mamdani also wrote that "we must refuse to accept a world in which occupation and apartheid continue" and that the federal government "continues its complicity with every arms shipment." Fox News noted that Israel has disputed allegations that it deliberately targets civilians and journalists. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the UN, wrote on X that Mamdani was attempting to "hijack the anniversary of October 7 and turn it into yet another propaganda attack against Israel," adding that it was "like turning September 11 into a day of mourning for al-Qaeda terrorists." CBS News reported that Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida accused Mamdani of "desecrating the memory of murdered, innocent Jews," Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey said he was "blam[ing] the victims," and Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop called the statement "inappropriate." The New York Post reported that Jewish advocates accused the mayor of "weaponizing" the anniversary. [ 1 , 2 , 5 ]
CNN reported that Mamdani was met with boos as he arrived at a vigil in Union Square on Wednesday night, citing video from affiliate WABC, and that his public schedule listed a meeting with Palestinian New Yorkers afterwards. The New York Post contrasted his statement with one from Gov. Kathy Hochul, who called Oct. 7 the deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust and ordered flags on state buildings flown at half-staff. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
CBS News noted that Mamdani is a longstanding critic of Israel's conduct of the war and of U.S. aid to Israel, and that he has said criticism of Israel is distinct from antisemitism. [ 5 ]
Why it matters
The reaction shows how the mayor's long-standing criticism of Israel continues to divide Democrats and strain his relations with Jewish groups and Israeli officials, as CBS News reported. National and tier-1 outlets covered the statement, and Israel's UN envoy responded publicly.
Key facts
- Mamdani issued a statement on Wednesday marking three years since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, calling the day "profoundly painful for so many New Yorkers." [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The statement said Hamas killed more than 1,100 Israelis and abducted 251 others. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Mamdani accused the Israeli government of a "devastating, ongoing genocide in Gaza," citing more than 74,000 Palestinian deaths. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Israel's UN ambassador Danny Danon wrote on X that the framing was "like turning September 11 into a day of mourning for al-Qaeda terrorists." [ 2 ]
- Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Josh Gottheimer and Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop criticised the statement. [ 5 ]
- CNN reported that Mamdani was booed as he arrived at an Oct. 7 vigil in Union Square on Wednesday night, citing video from affiliate WABC. [ 3 ]
- Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered flags on state buildings flown at half-staff and landmarks lit yellow, the New York Post reported. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Mamdani's statement called the anniversary "profoundly painful" for many New Yorkers. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The statement accused Israel of a "devastating, ongoing genocide in Gaza." [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- The statement cited more than 74,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- The statement said Hamas killed more than 1,100 Israelis and abducted 251 others. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The statement drew criticism from Jewish leaders or advocates. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- The death toll of the Oct. 7 attack. The mayor's statement, as quoted by three outlets, said more than 1,100 Israelis were killed; CBS News described about 1,200 people killed in Israel.
- Danon's comparison to September 11 and al-Qaeda. Reported only by Fox News.
- Mamdani being booed at the Union Square vigil. Reported only by CNN, citing WABC video.
- How Mamdani or his office responded to the criticism. None of the documents reports a response from the mayor to the backlash.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The New York Post reports outrage over Mamdani's Oct. 7 anniversary statement. [ 1 ]
- Fox News reports Israeli UN ambassador Danny Danon's criticism on X. [ 2 ]
- CNN reports the backlash and Mamdani's planned attendance at a Union Square vigil. [ 3 ]
- CBS News reports criticism from Democratic officials including Wasserman Schultz, Gottheimer and Fulop. [ 5 ]