New York mayor's Oct. 7 statement draws criticism from Jewish leaders

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani released a statement on October 7, 2026, the third anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel. He called the killing of around 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of over 250 people "horrific war crimes." He also described Israel's military campaign in Gaza as "an ongoing genocide" that has killed over 74,000 Palestinians. Jewish leaders and Israeli officials said the statement shifted focus away from Israeli victims on a day meant for mourning. Israel's U.N. Ambassador compared it to criticising the U.S. on the anniversary of 9/11. Some Democratic leaders also objected. Separately, activists interrupted a vigil and called Mamdani a traitor to the Palestinian cause. Mamdani is the first Muslim mayor of New York City, which has a large Jewish population.