Zohran Mamdani faces backlash for calling Israel’s Gaza war ‘ongoing genocide’ on Oct 7 anniversary
New York City official Zohran Mamdani is facing backlash for describing Israel's military campaign in Gaza as an 'ongoing genocide' during a statement marking the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks. Critics, including Nikki Haley, have condemned the remarks as antisemitic and an inappropriate hijacking of a memorial day.
Why it matters
The controversy highlights the deep political polarization surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict and the intense scrutiny of public officials' rhetoric regarding the war.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday marked the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel by condemning the killings and hostage-taking, while also accusing the Israeli government of carrying out an “ongoing genocide” in Gaza.Mamdani’s statement, issued as Israel and Jewish communities marked three years since the Hamas attack, acknowledged that Hamas killed more than 1,100 Israelis and abducted 251 people. He described the loss as “unthinkable” but said the suffering in the region “did not begin nor end” on October 7.The New York mayor also highlighted the Palestinian death toll in Gaza, saying more than 74,000 Palestinians, including more than 21,000 children, have been killed.
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