Mamdani criticized by fellow Democrats for statement mourning Oct. 7 attacks while condemning Israel

October 7, 2026 / 8:30 PM EDT / CBS News

Mamdani criticized by fellow Democrats for statement mourning Oct. 7 attacks while condemning Israel

TL;DR

  • Mayor Zohran Mamdani recognized the three-year anniversary of Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
  • Mamdani also extensively criticized Israel's "ongoing genocide" in the Gaza Strip.
  • The statement drew significant backlash from several Democratic elected officials, including Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Josh Gottheimer.
  • Critics accused Mamdani of blaming victims and desecrating the memory of those killed.
  • Mamdani has consistently defended his stance, stating that criticism of Israel is distinct from antisemitism.
  • Jewish groups, such as the Anti-Defamation League, also criticized Mamdani's remarks.
  • The mayor has previously vowed to seek the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visited New York City, citing an International Criminal Court warrant.
  • Netanyahu has previously accused Mamdani of antisemitism and stated that many Jews no longer feel safe in New York.