Zohran Mamdani Honors 7 Oct Victims of 'Horrific War Crimes' as Critics Blast 'Anti-Israel' Statement

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani commemorated the 'horrific war crimes of October 7' but critics have criticised him over what they described as anti-Israel rhetoric. On social media, Mamdani said: 'Hamas killed more than 1,100 Israelis and abducted 251 others. We grieve alongside our many friends and neighbors who still carry that unthinkable loss.'

But it was what followed that grated on some people, particularly right-wing elected officials. 'The suffering did not begin nor end that day. It instead continued through the Israeli government's devastating, ongoing genocide in Gaza, in which it has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians—including more than 21,000 children,' he said.

Has Zohran Mamdani Faced Antisemitism Accusations?

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has faced repeated accusations of antisemitism from critics over his fierce criticism of Israel. He previously called for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he travelled to New York City, which Netanyahu did in late September 2026 to address the United Nations General Assembly.

However, Mamdani later clarified that neither he nor the city possesses the legal authority to execute the arrest. While the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an active arrest warrant for Netanyahu on allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, the United States is not a party to the ICC's Rome Statute and New York City does not have independent legal authority to enforce the warrant.

Mamdani has maintained that his anti-Israel stance is not anti-Jewish, and he recently rolled out New York City's first municipal strategy to combat antisemitism. The initiative includes increased funding for synagogue security, expanded Holocaust education and investment in Jewish historical and cultural institutions.

But his critics have criticised him over his recent post. Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro counted Mamdani's words and said that 49 were devoted to paying tribute to Jews murdered on 7 October 2023, while 141 focused on how Israel was 'responsible for everything.'

Elected Officials React to Mamdani's Post

Texas Senator Ted Cruz called Mamdani's post 'utterly disgraceful.' He said: 'Comrade Mamdani effectively declares a day of mourning for the Hamas terrorists who lost their lives raping & murdering innocent civilians.'

'Disgusting and shameful to use October 7th as an excuse to repeat Hamas' talking points...' said Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

Mamdani's fellow New Yorker, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, said the statement was evidence of the mayor's antisemitism and anti-Americanism. 'The senior aides around him who painstakingly helped write this vile garbage are so imbued with antisemitism...' she said.

In his controversial post, Mamdani also said: 'That suffering has intensified with every Israeli bomb dropped on ambulances waiting outside hospitals, every drone strike targeting a residential building or journalist, and every shipment of food aid turned away at a border crossing.'

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Deaths By the Numbers

According to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led assault on Israel killed more than 1,200 people and saw 251 people taken hostage. The attack triggered an Israeli military campaign in Gaza that has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry's figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

An October 2025 ceasefire agreement led to the release of the remaining living hostages, but fighting and deadly strikes have continued in Gaza. In his 7 October 2026 statement, Mamdani said more than 1,400 Palestinians had been killed since the ceasefire took effect.

Mamdani's statement has drawn criticism from Jewish leaders and political figures. It also mourned both Israeli victims of the 7 October attack and Palestinians killed in the subsequent war.