New York's Mayor Faces Criticism Over Statement on Oct. 7 Anniversary

On Wednesday, New York City marked one year since the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Mayor Zohran Mamdani posted a statement on social media about the anniversary. His words caused strong reactions from Jewish leaders, pro-Israel groups, and pro-Palestinian activists across the city. Meanwhile, separate rallies and vigils were held throughout New York to honor those who died and to protest the ongoing war in Gaza.

Mayor Mamdani's statement called the October 7 attacks 'horrific war crimes' by Hamas. But most of the statement focused on what he called Israel's 'devastating, ongoing genocide' in Gaza. He described suffering that included Israeli bombs dropping near hospitals and food aid being blocked at border crossings. He did not describe the killings of Israelis or the taking of hostages in the same amount of detail.

Many Jewish leaders were upset by the mayor's words. Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, the president of the New York Board of Rabbis, said the statement was 'morally perverse.' Rabbi Rick Jacobs, who leads the Union for Reform Judaism, said the mayor had been 'callous toward Jewish pain' and that his words made Jewish New Yorkers less safe. The UJA-Federation of New York, a large Jewish charity, also said the mayor shifted focus away from Hamas's victims.

Not everyone disagreed with the mayor, though. Some progressive Jewish groups said his statement struck the right tone. Sophie Ellman-Golan of Jews for Racial and Economic Justice said it was important to recognize both the October 7 attacks and what came after. 'To act like there was a horrific attack and then nothing happened afterward — we cannot fail to acknowledge that,' she said.

The mayor's statement was very different from those made by other leaders. Governor Kathy Hochul called October 7 'the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust.' The New York City Council shared the story of an Israeli Jew who was sheltered by a Bedouin Muslim farmer during the attacks. These statements put more focus on the Israeli victims of the Hamas assault.

Mayor Mamdani has had a tense relationship with many Jewish leaders since taking office in January. He has also clashed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called him an antisemite at the United Nations last month. The mayor called Netanyahu a war criminal and accused him of spreading lies. Their public argument showed how heated the debate over the conflict has become.

The October 7 attacks killed about 1,200 people in Israel and led to around 251 people being taken hostage. Since then, Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, including thousands of children. Support for Israel in the United States has dropped, especially among young people and Democrats, according to the Pew Research Center.

On Wednesday, groups on both sides held events across New York City. Pro-Israel groups held memorial ceremonies, including a candlelit vigil in Union Square organized by Israelis for Peace New York. Tamar Glezerman, one of the organizers, lost her aunt in the October 7 attacks and said people can grieve for both sides. 'There is this fallacy out there that if you mourn or feel the pain of one side, that somehow cancels the other side,' she said.

Pro-Palestinian groups held separate protests near City Hall, calling attention to the wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. Some protesters were also angry at Mayor Mamdani, feeling he had not done enough for Palestinians. One protester held a sign accusing him of being 'on the side of genocide.' The competing events showed how deeply divided New York City remains over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict one year after October 7.