New York Mayor Accuses Israel of 'Genocide' in 7/10 Anniversary Post

New York City Mayor Zahran Mamdani marked the three-year anniversary of the October 7th Hamas attacks by accusing Israel of "devastating genocide" and "apartheid." In a social media post on Wednesday, Mamdani stated that "the suffering did not begin or end on that day." He acknowledged the "horrific war crimes of October 7th," during which Hamas killed over 1,100 Israelis and abducted 251, expressing condolences for the "unfathomable loss" felt by many New Yorkers. However, he immediately pivoted to condemn the "devastating and ongoing genocide by the Israeli government in Gaza," claiming it has killed over 74,000 Palestinians, including more than 21,000 children. Mamdani further alleged that over 1,400 Palestinians have been killed since the "so-called ceasefire," attributing the suffering to Israeli bombings of ambulances, drone strikes on residential buildings, and the return of food aid shipments at border crossings.

Mamdani criticized the U.S. administration, stating that "many New Yorkers are grappling with this unbearable grief, and we mourn alongside them, all while knowing that our tax dollars are funding these war crimes." He called for a refusal to accept a world where "occupation and apartheid continue, where war crimes are met with impunity, and our federal government continues its complicity in crime with every arms shipment." He concluded by urging a fight for a world where all people can live in freedom, security, and dignity.

Last year, Mamdani published a similar statement, initially condemning Hamas's "heinous war crime" and praying for the hostages' return. He then accused Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli government of a "murderous war" which he defined as genocide, citing over 67,000 deaths and accusing the U.S. administration of complicity. He ended with a call to end the "occupation and apartheid."

Separately, masked protesters demonstrated outside the Jewish Community Centre in London earlier, carrying Iranian and Palestinian flags. The group protested outside the offices of the "Community Trust" in Camden hours before a central commemoration event for the disaster, chanting "Stop killing babies" and holding signs accusing the organization of genocide denial. The protesters, also wearing Irish flags, carried signs calling the Board of Deputies of British Jews "Israel's mouthpiece," "a shield for Israeli crimes," and "a committee of genocide deniers." Other signs accused the organization of weaponizing antisemitism.