Mamdani Sparks Backlash After Calling Gaza War ‘Genocide’ in October 7 Anniversary Message

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has faced criticism over a statement marking the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel after he used the occasion to address both the deaths of Israelis and the continuing suffering of Palestinians in Gaza.

In his statement, Mamdani described October 7 as a day of “horrific war crimes,” saying Hamas killed more than 1,100 Israelis and abducted 251 people. He said he mourned alongside New Yorkers who continued to live with the loss.

Gaza Becomes a Major Focus

After acknowledging the victims of October 7, Mamdani shifted his attention to the subsequent war in Gaza.

He argued that Palestinian suffering did not begin or end on October 7 and described Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as an “ongoing genocide.” He cited figures of more than 74,000 Palestinian deaths, including more than 21,000 children, and said more than 1,400 Palestinians had been killed since a ceasefire took effect.

Mamdani also criticized U.S. support for Israel, arguing that American taxpayers were funding what he described as war crimes.

Alyssa Farah Griffin Criticizes the Mayor

The statement quickly drew a response from Alyssa Farah Griffin, a Republican political commentator and television panelist.

Griffin questioned why Mamdani had not limited his October 7 message to commemorating Jewish victims of the attack. She argued that Jewish New Yorkers should have been given a day to mourn the victims of what she described as the largest mass killing of Jews since the Holocaust.

Her comments became part of a wider public debate over how the anniversary should be commemorated.

Critics Say the Anniversary Was Politicized

Other critics similarly objected to Mamdani’s decision to devote substantial portions of the statement to Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Moshe Spern, president of the New York-based United Jewish Teachers, criticized the mayor and argued that the anniversary should have remained focused on the October 7 attack and its victims.

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon also accused Mamdani of using an occasion intended to honor victims and survivors to criticize Israel.

Mamdani Links the Two Events

Mamdani’s statement presented October 7 and the subsequent war as part of a continuing humanitarian crisis.

He argued that remembering those killed by Hamas should also involve opposing what he considers violations committed during the conflict in Gaza.

He called for an end to what he described as occupation and apartheid and said people should work toward a situation in which everyone could live with freedom, security and dignity.

Debate Over Casualty Figures

The figures cited by Mamdani come amid an ongoing dispute over casualty reporting from the Gaza war.

Mamdani attributed his figures to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Other reporting has noted that Gaza’s health authorities do not provide the same breakdown between civilians and combatants as some Israeli estimates.

The competing figures and differing descriptions of the conflict have remained central to political debate surrounding the war.

New York Holds October 7 Vigils

The controversy emerged as memorial events and vigils were being held in New York to remember those killed and abducted during the October 7 attack.

Mamdani was also expected to attend an evening memorial event in the city.

The anniversary has therefore brought together competing concerns: remembrance of the Israeli victims and hostages, recognition of Palestinian suffering, and disagreement over how the events that followed October 7 should be characterized.

Mamdani’s Position on Israel Has Drawn Attention Before

Mamdani has previously faced scrutiny over his statements concerning Israel and the Gaza war.

During his campaign for mayor, he said he would seek to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if Netanyahu entered New York City under circumstances in which the mayor believed an arrest obligation applied.

He has also repeatedly described Israel’s conduct in Gaza as genocide, making the position in his October 7 statement consistent with his previously expressed views.

Statement Adds to Broader Debate

The reaction to Mamdani’s message reflects the wider political and social divisions surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict.

While the mayor explicitly condemned Hamas’s October 7 attack and acknowledged the loss of Israeli lives and the abduction of hostages, his decision to pair that remembrance with condemnation of Israel’s conduct in Gaza drew criticism from Jewish organizations, Israeli officials and political commentators.

The debate has placed renewed attention on the difficult question of how public officials should commemorate October 7 while addressing the broader consequences of the conflict.