Mayor Mamdani's Oct. 7 statement draws backlash from Anti-Defamation League
The attack led to the Gaza War, and Israel's retaliatory strikes have killed more than 70,000 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
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Wednesday marked three years since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in Israel, where about 1,200 people were killed.
One of their main targets was the Nova Music Festival, where young people were celebrating with electronic dance music.
More than 250 people were kidnapped and held hostage for months by Hamas.
The attack led to the Gaza War, and Israel's retaliatory strikes have killed more than 70,000 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani released a statement Wednesday on X condemning the attacks.
"This day is profoundly painful for so many New Yorkers. It marks three years since the horrific war crimes of October 7," Mamdani said in an X post. "We grieve alongside our many friends and neighbors who still carry that unthinkable loss."
He then went on to criticize Israel, calling its response to the attacks a war crime.
The criticism drew sharp backlash from Anti-Defamation League.
"You are weaponizing a day meant for mourning the worst massacre of Jews since the holocaust. The city with the largest Jewish population outside Israel deserves a mayor who can honor the dead without exploiting them," said CEO Jonathan Greenblatt.
Gov. Kathy Hochul was also asked about Mamdani's statement.
"I traveled to Israel just days after that attack...and it's with me to this day so that was an unprovoked attack on innocent civilians," she said.
