Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani took the opportunity of the second anniversary of Hamas’ devastating assault on October 7 to criticize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli administration for what he termed a “genocidal war” in Gaza.
Mamdani contended that the United States has been “complicit through it all,” as expressed in a post on his X account.
The left-leaning Democratic candidate also condemned Hamas for launching “a horrific war crime” that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis, expressing his hope for the safe return of hostages still trapped in Gaza.
Approximately 48 of the nearly 250 Israelis taken hostage by Hamas remain in Gaza, with fewer than half thought to be alive.
“After that day, Prime Minister Netanyahu and his administration have carried out a genocidal campaign against the people of Gaza,” he stated, referencing the 67,000 deaths reported by the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.
“Every day in Gaza has become a place where grief no longer has words,” he added.
“I grieve for these lives and pray for the families shattered by these events. Our government has been complicit throughout this situation.”
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Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel specifically targeted numerous civilians, with part of the vicious assault occurring at the Nova Music Festival, where attendees were forced to flee for safety.
The brutal murders and abductions prompted Israel to launch a military response in Gaza, amid rising anti-Israel protests and an increase in antisemitic incidents both domestically and internationally.
Mamdani expressed his sorrow for the victims of Hamas and prayed “for the safe return of every hostage and for every family whose lives have been shattered by these heinous acts,” while simultaneously calling for Israel to terminate “the occupation and apartheid.”
“These past two years have illustrated the worst of human behavior,” the 33-year-old candidate remarked, urging that any peace agreement must be achieved through diplomacy and not through war crimes.
His comments faced swift condemnation from many pro-Israel advocates, including Matthew Schweber of Columbia University’s Jewish Alumni Association.
“There is no moral comparison between Hamas and Israel. That statement demonstrates he is unfit to serve as mayor of New York City,” he told The Post.
“It indulges in classic blood libel by equating Israel to an apartheid state. This rhetoric is reminiscent of centuries-old blood libel that incites violent pogroms against Jewish communities.”
Former City Council member and Jewish activist Rory Lancman also criticized Mamdani for his statement on Tuesday.
“Two years ago, as the remains of Jewish victims smoldered and the trauma of the attacks lingered, Zohran Mamdani blamed Israel for its existence without acknowledging Hamas or its atrocities; today, two years later, he continues to attack Israel while dozens of Jews remain captives of Hamas,” he asserted in a statement to The Post.
A spokesperson for the mayor’s office, Fabien Levy, condemned Mamdani’s remarks in a post on X.
“To clarify, this is not a statement regarding October 7,” he wrote.
“This statement shows how little Zohran respects Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and how he criticizes our own government more than he does a designated terrorist organization.”
Hamas has taken around 250 Israelis hostage, including women and children, and subjected them to grim conditions with inadequate food supplies kept in dark tunnels for extended periods.
Israel and Hamas reached two hostage agreements—one in January and another in November 2024—that allowed the release of many captives, including the remains of some who were killed during the events of October 7 or in subsequent violence in Gaza.
Many freed hostages returned in poor health and recounted their harrowing experiences.
Currently, around 48 hostages are still in Gaza, with about 20 believed to be alive and the others presumed dead.
The remains of two Israeli-Americans serving in the Israel Defense Forces are still in Hamas’s possession.
A new cease-fire agreement, facilitated by President Trump, aims to secure the release of any remaining hostages.
Mamdani has attracted criticism for his views on Israel previously.
This year, he declined to vote on a state resolution commemorating Israel’s 77th year of independence.
He also chose not to endorse a resolution denouncing the Holocaust, though his campaign claimed he supported it verbally.
Mamdani has refused to acknowledge Israel as a Jewish state but rather as a “state with equal rights,” and has pledged that as mayor, he would instruct the NYPD to arrest Netanyahu for war crimes should he visit New York City.
In a statement regarding the tragic anniversary, Mamdani’s opponent, Andrew Cuomo, who is conducting an independent campaign after losing the Democratic primary, focused on Hamas’ destructive record.
“To the Jewish community – I stand with you,” he posted on X. “I mourn with you and will always be by your side in the battle against evil and antisemitism in all its forms.”
“Bring them home NOW,” Cuomo demanded regarding the hostages still held.
Mayor Eric Adams, who withdrew from his mayoral campaign last week, also reflects on the “trauma” suffered by Israelis on October 7 as he condemned the rising antisemitism that has followed.
“I am praying for the safe return of all hostages, for the dissolution of Hamas, and for an end to violence in the region,” he shared in a video message.
