Israeli Consul General Invites NYC Mayor to View Hamas Atrocity Footage

Israel's Consul General in New York, Ofir Akunis, has extended an unexpected invitation to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to watch the "video of atrocities" from the October 7th Hamas massacre. The invitation, sent both verbally at a ceremony and in a formal letter dated October 5th, urges the mayor to view a 47-minute compilation of footage, including material filmed by Hamas terrorists themselves using GoPro cameras.

Akunis stated that the screening, scheduled to take place in New York City less than 48 hours before October 7th, aims to show the mayor "what the people he supports truly did." He expressed hope that witnessing the events firsthand would lead Mamdani to cease his "incitement, hatred, and blood libels" against Israel. Akunis also claimed in his letter that Mamdani's rhetoric against Israel is a "fundamental reason" for the rise in antisemitism in New York, asserting that viewing the footage would help the mayor understand why the Jewish state is important and why Israel must defend itself.

Mamdani has publicly condemned the October 7th attack as a "horrific war crime" and stated his opposition to antisemitism and commitment to the safety of New York's Jewish community. However, he has also been a vocal critic of Israeli policies in Gaza, accusing Israel of "genocide," a claim Israel rejects. The invitation comes amid months of sharp conflict between Mamdani and the Israeli government, with Mamdani having previously called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "war criminal."

Akunis also addressed world leaders and public officials criticizing Israel, questioning what they would do if similar atrocities occurred in their own countries. He declared that Israel was "finished listening" to what he termed empty criticism and accused global leaders of hypocrisy and weakness. These remarks followed Mamdani's presentation of New York City's first strategy to combat antisemitism, which includes increased funding for hate crime prevention, security for religious institutions, and expanded Holocaust and Jewish history education.

Akunis had previously criticized the city's antisemitism plan, arguing that budgetary measures were insufficient as long as Mamdani continued his strong rhetoric against Israel. The city's plan received mixed reactions from Jewish organizations, with some praising its security and anti-hate crime components, while others felt it did not adequately address the link they perceive between anti-Zionism and antisemitism. Tensions between Mamdani and Israel also escalated during Netanyahu's recent visit to New York for the UN General Assembly, where the Prime Minister accused the mayor of supporting Hamas.