NYC Mayor Accused of Whitewashing Hamas on Oct. 7 Anniversary
Critics allege Mayor Zohran Mamdani's statement on the third anniversary of the Hamas attacks distorted facts and demonized Israel.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been accused of using the third anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks to issue a statement that whitewashes the militant group, demonizes Israel, and misrepresents the events and their aftermath. Critics contend that Mamdani’s remarks, while acknowledging "unthinkable loss," failed to detail Hamas's actions and incorrectly labeled them as "war crimes."
According to the critique, war crimes occur during warfare, and the conflict on Oct. 6, 2023, was initiated by the Hamas invasion, which involved killings, rapes, and kidnappings of civilians. This distinction, the critics argue, undermines Mamdani's subsequent claims of "devastating, ongoing genocide" by Israel.
Mamdani reportedly cited figures of over 74,000 Palestinians killed, including more than 21,000 children, which the critics assert are numbers no longer claimed even by Hamas or its affiliated Gaza Health Ministry. The analysis further questions the mayor's framing of these casualties as genocide, noting that such an event would disproportionately affect military-aged men and occur in a population that has continued to grow.
The mayor’s statement also drew attention to alleged Israeli actions, such as bombs dropped on ambulances and the targeted killing of journalists. However, the criticism points to documented Hamas practices, including the use of ambulances for military purposes and disguising its fighters as members of the press. The notes highlight that Hamas is known to operate from civilian areas, building command centers under hospitals and storing weapons beneath schools, and that its gunmen have reportedly fired on Gazans attempting to evacuate during the conflict.
This is not the first time Mamdani has been accused of using public platforms to express views critical of Israel and the United States. The critique notes similar instances on Independence Day, the anniversary of 9/11, and even during a St. Patrick's Day event, where he has allegedly propagated what his critics describe as propaganda against America and its allies.
The mayor’s consistent rhetoric on these occasions, the commentary suggests, stems from a desire to appease certain political factions and to reinforce his ideological stance, which critics characterize as smug and ideologically driven. Mamdani’s office has not publicly responded to these specific accusations.