NYC Mayor Mamdani Faces Backlash for Oct. 7 Statement Mourning Hamas Attack and Criticizing Israel

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued a statement on Wednesday marking three years since Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages. While Mamdani acknowledged the horror of the Hamas attack, his statement also fiercely criticized Israel’s military actions in Gaza, referring to them as an “ongoing genocide.” The mayor’s comments have ignited significant controversy, drawing strong condemnations from Democratic elected officials, Jewish groups, Israeli diplomats, and others.

Mamdani’s Statement: Mourning Hamas Attack and Condemning Israel

In his statement, Mamdani called Oct. 7 a “profoundly painful” day, recognizing the “horrific war crimes” committed by Hamas, including the mass killing and hostage-taking. He expressed grief alongside New Yorkers affected by the violence. However, the mayor quickly shifted focus to harsh criticism of Israel’s response, citing the death toll of more than 74,000 in Gaza as reported by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry. Mamdani accused Israel of committing a “devastating, ongoing genocide,” adding that many New Yorkers mourn the losses in Gaza while also grappling with the knowledge that their tax dollars fund what he characterized as “war crimes.”

He emphasized the need to reject a world where occupation and apartheid persist and where war crimes occur with impunity, criticizing the U.S. federal government for its role in supporting Israel through arms shipments.

Democratic Officials and Jewish Groups Respond with Outrage

Mamdani’s statement sparked sharp criticism from prominent Democrats who accused him of inappropriately focusing blame on Israel rather than Hamas. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida condemned Mamdani for “desecrating the memory of murdered, innocent Jews.” Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey accused the mayor of “blaming the victims” of the Hamas attack, while Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop called the statement “inappropriate and unnecessarily inflammatory.”

Rep. Richie Torres, without naming Mamdani, urged critics of Israel to pause their attacks on the Jewish state on Oct. 7 and offer condolences to the thousands of Israelis affected by Hamas’ violence. Rep. Daniel Goldman, who lost a primary in Manhattan and Brooklyn to a Mamdani-endorsed candidate, called the mayor’s message “reprehensible,” accusing him of offending those he claims to grieve with. Brad Lander, the Democratic nominee endorsed by Mamdani, condemned Hamas but warned against “flattening empathy” in the conflict.

The Anti-Defamation League’s CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt, also criticized Mamdani, accusing him of “weaponizing a day meant for mourning the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust to recycle your usual antizionist talking points.” Greenblatt noted that Mamdani’s statement never mentioned the word “Jews.”

International and Diplomatic Reactions

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee described Mamdani’s statement as an “outrageous & disgusting rant,” while Israeli Consul General in New York Ofir Akunis called it a “disgrace, shame, and insult to the memory of those who were murdered.” These comments come amid ongoing tensions surrounding Mamdani’s vocal critiques of Israel and U.S. support for it.

Mamdani’s office has been contacted by CBS News for comment but has not issued a response as of this writing.

Mamdani’s Longstanding Controversial Stance on Israel

Since his rise in New York City politics, Mamdani has been a persistent critic of Israeli policies and a vocal opponent of U.S. aid to Israel, positions that have divided Democrats nationwide. Ahead of the 2025 Democratic mayoral primary, he pledged to seek the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on an International Criminal Court warrant accusing him of war crimes if Netanyahu visited New York City. Mamdani later acknowledged the city lacked the power to enforce such an arrest.

During Netanyahu’s visit to the United Nations General Assembly last month, the Israeli leader accused Mamdani of antisemitism and claimed many Jews no longer feel safe in New York. Mamdani has repeatedly denied that his criticism of Israel equates to antisemitism, asserting that criticism of government policy is distinct from bigotry against a people. Last month, he unveiled a plan to combat antisemitism in New York City, including an antisemitism hotline and increased security funding for synagogues.

The controversy surrounding Mamdani’s Oct. 7 statement underscores the deep divisions within U.S. politics and among New Yorkers over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the proper way to remember and mourn the tragic events of that day three years ago.