Reactions from across the spectrum have poured in online following New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s 7 October statement, which many Palestinians and pro-Palestine advocates say shows him bending the knee to political pressure.
Published on the second anniversary of the Hamas-led attack on 7 October, Mamdani began the statement by mourning “the 1,100 Israelis killed and hundreds taken hostage”.
He then pivoted to denounce Israel’s military response: “In the aftermath… Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli government launched a genocidal war… A death toll that now far exceeds 67,000; with the Israeli military bombing homes, hospitals, and schools into rubble… Every day in Gaza has become a place where grief itself has run out of language… Our government has been complicit through it all. The occupation and apartheid must end.”
Pro-Palestine social media users were quick to respond to his statement, with many pointing out that neither “Palestinians” or “Palestine” was used once.
