Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York City delivered a statement at a Union Square vigil on Oct. 7, 2026, marking the third anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel.
While acknowledging the “horrific war crimes” committed by Hamas that day, Mamdani shifted the focus to Israel’s conduct in Gaza, describing it as a “devastating, ongoing genocide” that has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians, including over 21,000 children, and adding that 1,400 more have died since the cease‑fire.
He cautioned that New York taxpayers “fund these war crimes,” called for an end to “occupation and apartheid,” and urged a world where every person can live with “freedom, safety, and dignity.” The mayor also announced a six‑million‑dollar allocation to an organization linked to activist Linda Sarsour as part of his citywide antisemitism plan.
The remarks sparked immediate outrage among New York’s Jewish community and prompted condemnation from several officials. Israel’s U.N. ambassador Danny Danon likened Mamdani’s framing to “turning September 11 into a day of mourning for al‑Qaeda,” while Anti‑Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said the mayor was “weaponizing a day meant for mourning the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.” Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley also denounced the statement as a “disgusting and shameful” attempt to repeat Hamas talking points.
Critics emphasized that the mayor’s allocation of city funds to a group connected with Sarsour raised concerns about the administration’s commitment to combating antisemitism, especially given the city’s large Jewish population. Community leaders called for political accountability and urged the mayor to honor the victims without exploiting the tragedy for a broader political agenda.
City officials confirmed the six‑million‑dollar grant and said they will review the hiring and oversight processes for the anti‑hate initiative as pressure mounts. The mayor’s office has not indicated any change to the statement or its tone, leaving community groups to plan further public responses.