New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani attended a peace vigil on Tuesday evening organized by Israelis for Peace, a group calling for an end to Israel’s occupation and violence. The event, held in Union Square, marked the two-year anniversary of the 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel.
Mamdani sat alongside New York City comptroller Brad Lander, his former rival for the Democratic nomination and now one of his strongest supporters. Together, they listened as speakers called for justice, peace, and equal rights for both Israelis and Palestinians.
The vigil came hours after Mamdani’s public statement on the anniversary drew criticism from Israeli officials. In his remarks, he mourned both the Israeli victims of the 2023 Hamas attacks and the Palestinian civilians killed in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Mamdani wrote that Hamas’s actions on 7 October were a “horrific war crime” that took more than 1,100 Israeli lives and led to hundreds of kidnappings. He expressed sympathy for the victims’ families and prayed for the return of all remaining hostages.
At the same time, he strongly condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government for what he described as a “genocidal war” in Gaza. Mamdani said the U.S. government was also complicit in the devastation, accusing it of failing to stop the violence.
He said the death toll in Gaza had surpassed 67,000, including thousands of children, and that entire neighborhoods, hospitals, and schools had been reduced to rubble. “Every day in Gaza has become a place where grief itself has run out of language,” Mamdani wrote, adding that the conflict revealed “the very worst of humanity.”
The Israeli foreign ministry responded sharply on social media, accusing Mamdani of echoing “Hamas propaganda” and spreading false claims about genocide. Officials said his statement ignored Israeli suffering and fueled antisemitic rhetoric.
In Gaza, Israel’s ongoing military campaign has faced growing international criticism. Rights groups and several governments have accused Israel of committing war crimes. The International Criminal Court has issued warrants for Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant for alleged crimes against humanity.
Mamdani’s stance on Israel and Gaza has been one of the most divisive issues of the New York mayoral race. While his comments anger some Jewish and pro-Israel groups, he continues to receive support from younger, progressive, and Jewish voters who share his call for Palestinian rights.
A recent Marist poll showed Mamdani holding support from about 35% of Jewish voters, the same level as Andrew Cuomo before former mayor Eric Adams withdrew from the race.
The Democratic socialist candidate has faced controversy before. He was previously criticized for not condemning the slogan “globalize the intifada,” which some interpret as a call for violence. Mamdani later said he discourages the use of such language but continues to defend the right to protest Israeli policies.
He has also stated that, if elected mayor, he would instruct New York police to arrest Netanyahu should the Israeli leader visit the city while under an international arrest warrant.
Mamdani’s latest statement again divided opinion online. Some praised his balanced message of mourning for both sides, while others accused him of moral equivalence between terrorists and civilians.
David Frum, a writer and former speechwriter for U.S. President George W. Bush, criticized Mamdani’s tone on social media. He said the candidate’s “cold” language about Hamas’s attack contrasted sharply with his emotional criticism of Israel.
Fox News anchor David Asman went further, calling Mamdani’s words “obscene” and accusing him of supporting a “global intifada.” He said Mamdani’s views were unfit for a city deeply affected by past terrorist attacks.
Despite the backlash, Mamdani appeared calm at Tuesday’s vigil. Observers noted that he spent much of the evening listening quietly to others. Supporters said his attendance showed commitment to peace and to recognizing the humanity of all victims, regardless of nationality.
As the New York mayoral race continues, Mamdani’s position on the Israel-Gaza conflict is likely to remain a defining issue. His call for ending Israel’s occupation and promoting coexistence continues to attract both criticism and admiration across the city’s diverse communities.
