Brief
Democratic leaders rebuke NYC Mayor Mamdani’s Oct. 7 statement
Mamdani’s remarks mourning the Oct. 7 attacks while condemning Israel sparked condemnation from several Democratic lawmakers.
By Felo News Desk · Published
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s statement marking three years since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks and condemning Israel’s conduct in Gaza prompted a wave of criticism from Democratic elected officials, CBS News reported.
What happened
Mamdani’s remarks, released on Oct. 7, 2026, began by describing the day as “profoundly painful” for New Yorkers and noting the killing of about 1,200 Israelis and the taking of more than 250 hostages by Hamas. He then shifted to denounce Israel’s “devastating, ongoing genocide in Gaza,” citing a death toll of more than 74,000 Palestinians recorded by the Hamas‑run Gaza Health Ministry.
What the reports add
The CBS article lists specific Democratic critics: Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL) accused Mamdani of “desecrating the memory of murdered, innocent Jews.” Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ) said the mayor was “blaming the victims” of the Oct. 7 attack. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop called the statement “inappropriate and unnecessarily inflammatory.” Rep. Richie Torres (Bronx) posted on X that critics of Israel should “take a vacation from their hysterical hatred” to offer condolences to Israelis. Rep. Daniel Goldman, who lost a primary to a Mamdani‑endorsed candidate, called the message “reprehensible.”
What was said
Mayor Mamdani said, “We grieve alongside our many friends and neighbors who still carry that unthinkable loss,” and added, “Three years later, we must refuse to accept a world in which occupation and apartheid continue, where war crimes are met with impunity, and our federal government continues its complicity with every arms shipment.”
How it came about
Mamdani, a long‑time critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, has consistently opposed U.S. aid to Israel. His latest statement came amid ongoing debate within the Democratic Party over the war, a topic also featured in Felo News’s recent coverage of the Oct. 7 anniversary and its political ramifications.
Key facts
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani marked the Oct. 7 anniversary with a statement condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza. (cbsnews.com)
- Mamdani cited over 74,000 Palestinian deaths according to the Gaza Health Ministry. (cbsnews.com)
- Democratic officials including Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Rep. Josh Gottheimer publicly criticized Mamdani’s remarks. (cbsnews.com)
- Mamdani’s statement began by describing Oct. 7 as a “profoundly painful” day for New Yorkers. (cbsnews.com)
Sources
- [1] cbsnews.com — originally reported as “Mamdani criticized by fellow Democrats for statement mourning Oct. 7 attacks while condemning Israel”
