Schumer, Jeffries Silent on NYC Mayor Mamdani's Controversial Oct. 7 Remarks

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have remained silent on recent comments made by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani regarding the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

Mamdani's statement on the anniversary of the attack, which killed over 1,100 Israelis and saw more than 250 others taken hostage, primarily focused on criticizing Israel's actions in Gaza over the preceding three years. He described Israel's actions as a "devastating, ongoing genocide in Gaza, in which it has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians — including more than 21,000 children," and stated that more than 1,400 Palestinians had been killed since the ceasefire.

Mamdani's remarks drew strong criticism from some quarters, including fellow New York Democrat Rep. Dan Goldman. "This is a reprehensible statement on the anniversary of the horrific terrorist attack by a Palestinian terrorist organization against innocent Israelis," Goldman posted on X. "In the guise of ‘grieving’ with those mourning that day, Mayor Mamdani asserts as fact hotly disputed allegations that he knows full well will offend and further upset those same people he pretends to grieve with."

Neither Schumer nor Jeffries, who represent New York, have responded to requests for comment on Mamdani's statements. Both leaders issued their own statements on the October 7 attack.

Schumer, who is Jewish, characterized the October 7 attack as "the single deadliest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust." His statement also expressed a commitment to Israel's security and to the well-being of the Palestinian people, advocating for a lasting peace that would result in two states. "His support of Israel has become a wedge issue for some Senate Democrats, who have slowly pushed back against funding arms for Israel following three years of conflict in Gaza," the source noted.

Jeffries aligned with Schumer's statement, acknowledging the "painful reality that the Jewish people are in a constant struggle for survival." He also condemned the "horrific death of Palestinian civilians, destruction of civil society and devastation in Gaza," stating it "can never be allowed to happen again." Jeffries called for a significant change in American policy in the region, committing to the creation of an independent Palestinian state to provide dignity, respect, and self-determination for the Palestinian people.