Zahran Mamdani "Stirs Anger" on the Anniversary of "October 7".. What’s the Story?

- New York Mayor Zahran Mamdani commemorated the third anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, with a statement that sparked angry reactions and criticism from some Jewish leaders. In his statement, Mamdani acknowledged the "horrific war crimes that occurred on October 7," but at the same time accused Israel of "committing war crimes and genocide" in Gaza.

The mayor was met with boos upon arriving at a memorial vigil to commemorate October 7 in Union Square, according to videos broadcast by WABC, a news network. He is scheduled to meet with Palestinians from New York following the vigil, according to his announced agenda.

Mamdani wrote in his statement: "This day represents an extremely painful moment for many New Yorkers; it marks three years since the horrific war crimes that occurred on October 7." He added: "On that day, Hamas killed more than 1,100 Israelis and kidnapped 251 others, and we share in the sorrow of many of our friends and neighbors who still bear the burden of that unimaginable loss."

He continued: "The suffering did not begin on that day nor did it end there; it has continued through the ongoing and devastating genocide being perpetrated by the Israeli government in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of more than 74,000 Palestinians - including over 21,000 children. Even after what was called a ceasefire, more than 1,400 Palestinians were killed," and he added: "This suffering has been exacerbated with every Israeli bomb dropped on ambulances waiting outside hospitals, with every drone strike targeting a residential or journalistic building, and with every shipment of food aid denied entry at border crossings."

He stated that "many New Yorkers are facing this unbearable grief, and we share in their pain, while also recognizing that our tax dollars are funding these war crimes." The statement concluded: "Three years later, we must refuse to accept a world where occupation and apartheid continue, where war crimes are committed without accountability, and where our federal government continues to collude with every shipment of weapons."

"In honor of the victims, we must strive for a world where every person can live in freedom, safety, and dignity." Armed militants led by Hamas stormed Israeli residential areas along the border with the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,200 people, including children, women, and the elderly, while the attackers took 251 hostages.

The mayor - a prominent critic of the Israeli government - faced immediate and angry backlash from some Jewish leaders on social media due to his statement. In a post on the platform X (formerly Twitter), Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, accused Mamdani of "exploiting a day dedicated to mourning the worst massacre faced by Jews since the Holocaust to reintroduce your usual anti-Zionist ideas."

He wrote: "The city with the largest Jewish population outside of Israel deserves a mayor capable of honoring the victims without exploiting them." It is noteworthy that the Anti-Defamation League launched an initiative called "Mamdani Watch" to monitor the performance of the mayor's administration.

Similarly, Jack Simoni, president and director of the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation, pointed to New York's status as a city with the largest Jewish community outside of Israel, stating: "The Jewish people should be given this one day to mourn the dead and victims of rape and the children who have been orphaned, without turning their grief into a means to condemn Israel." He wrote: "The Palestinians have suffered immensely due to the war waged by Hamas, and their suffering deserves recognition," adding that Mamdani "should understand the significance of this day for the Jewish residents of New York whom he represents."

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) described Mamdani's statement as a "shameful moral failure." Mamdani had previously criticized the organization for its financial spending in U.S. elections. Last month, the mayor announced the first-ever municipal strategy for New York City to combat anti-Semitism, which includes allocating tens of millions of dollars to fund hate crime prevention efforts and support Jewish cultural centers.

Mamdani - who faced accusations of anti-Semitism from some Jewish groups due to his criticisms of Israel and its handling of protests held outside Jewish temples - sought to make communication with the Jewish communities in the city a cornerstone of his administration. During his election campaign, Mamdani hinted that he would seek - if he assumed the position of mayor - to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, despite the fact that the United States is not a signatory to the ICC agreement.

However, the mayor acknowledged earlier this summer that he "does not have the legal authority to do so."