On the 3rd anniversary of October 7 attacks, Mamdani draws ire as he accuses Israel of genocide and war crimes

Mamdani’s October 7 Statement Spurs Backlash in New York

Activelifezero.com – On the 3rd anniversary of October 7, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani mourned Israeli victims of the 2023 Hamas-led attack while accusing Israel of genocide and war crimes in Gaza. The statement drew sharp criticism from Jewish leaders and pro-Israel groups, who said the anniversary should remain focused on remembrance.

Mamdani described the date as profoundly painful for many New Yorkers with personal and community connections to Israel. He called the October 7 attack a series of “horrific war crimes” and acknowledged the grief of people affected by the killings and abductions.

“This day is profoundly painful for so many New Yorkers,” Mamdani wrote. “It marks three years since the horrific war crimes of October 7.”

Hamas-led gunmen entered Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7, 2023. More than 1,200 people were killed and 251 people were taken hostage; Mamdani said Hamas killed more than 1,100 Israelis during the assault.

Mamdani Connects Anniversary to Gaza War

On the 3rd anniversary of October 7, Mamdani also addressed the broader war in Gaza. He said Palestinian suffering did not begin or end with the Hamas attack and accused the Israeli government of carrying out an ongoing genocide and war crimes.

“The suffering did not begin nor end that day,” Mamdani said. “It instead continued through the Israeli government’s devastating, ongoing genocide in Gaza.”

His statement said that more than 74,000 Palestinians, including more than 21,000 children, had been killed in Gaza. He also said more than 1,400 Palestinians had died since what he called a “so-called” ceasefire.

Mamdani pointed to attacks near hospitals, strikes on residential buildings and journalists, and obstacles to food-aid deliveries. He argued that many New Yorkers are grieving both the victims of October 7 and Palestinians affected by the war, while questioning continued US military support for Israel.

Jewish Leaders Condemn the Statement

Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League, criticized Mamdani for using a memorial date to repeat anti-Zionist arguments. He said New York, home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel, deserved a mayor who could honor the dead without politicizing their loss.

“The city with the largest Jewish population outside Israel deserves a mayor who can honor the dead without exploiting them,” Greenblatt wrote.

Greenblatt said the mayor had used a day of mourning for the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust for political purposes. The Anti-Defamation League has created a “Mamdani Monitor” to track actions by his administration.

Jack Simony, president and director of the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation, said Palestinians have suffered enormously during the war and that their losses should be recognized. However, he argued that Jewish New Yorkers should be able to mourn October 7 victims without having their grief reframed as criticism of Israel.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee called Mamdani’s statement a “disgraceful moral failure.” Mamdani has previously criticized AIPAC over its role and spending in US elections.

A Difficult Political Moment for City Hall

The reaction illustrates the pressures facing a mayor of a city with large Jewish, Israeli, Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, immigrant, and other affected communities. On the 3rd anniversary of October 7, the competing expressions of grief and anger again underscored how deeply the conflict resonates across New York City.

Mamdani has long criticized Israel’s government and has faced allegations of antisemitism from some Jewish organizations. Those accusations have focused on his criticism of Israel and his response to protests outside synagogues. At the same time, he has said engagement with Jewish communities is an important part of his administration.

Last month, Mamdani announced New York City’s first municipal strategy focused on combating antisemitism, including tens of millions of dollars in funding.

FAQ for New Yorkers

What did Mamdani say about October 7? He mourned Israeli victims, called the Hamas attack horrific war crimes, and linked the anniversary to his criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

Why did Jewish leaders object? Critics said a day intended to remember those killed and taken hostage should not be used to frame a broader political argument about Israel.

Why does the issue matter locally? New York City includes communities with close personal ties to Israel and Gaza, making the war and its anniversaries especially consequential for residents.