At a heated New York City mayoral debate, Zohran Mamdani dodges questions on Hamas, draws fury from Andrew Cuomo for anti-Israel rhetoric and vow to arrest Netanyahu.
New York City’s mayoral race turned explosive on Thursday night when Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa clashed at Rockefeller Center — transforming what began as a civic debate into a showdown over Hamas, antisemitism, and Israel’s right to exist.
When asked whether Hamas should disarm, Mamdani replied:
“Of course I believe they should lay down their arms… a ceasefire means ceasing fire.”
He then accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza and called for increased humanitarian aid, a statement that immediately triggered Cuomo’s outrage.
Cuomo: “You Refuse to Denounce Hamas”
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo cut in sharply:
“The assemblyman just said, ‘It depends on occupation.’ That is cold — meaning Israel does not have a right to exist as a Jewish state. That’s from the river to the sea. That’s why he won’t denounce ‘globalize the intifada,’ which means to kill all Jews.”
Cuomo’s direct rebuke electrified the audience, framing Mamdani’s comments as a refusal to reject terrorism and a dog whistle to anti-Israel radicals.
Mamdani Escalates: Vows to Arrest Netanyahu
Mamdani fired back by accusing Cuomo of “volunteering to join Netanyahu’s legal defense team” in The Hague. He doubled down on his previous statement that, if elected mayor, he would order the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he enter New York City — despite the fact that the U.S. is not a party to the International Criminal Court.
“This is a city that believes in international law,” Mamdani said. “If the ICC issues an arrest warrant, we should uphold it — for Netanyahu or anyone else.”
Legal analysts immediately noted the absurdity of his stance, calling it symbolic grandstanding with no constitutional basis.
Pattern of Extremism and Evasion
The confrontation follows Mamdani’s recent refusal on Fox News to say whether Hamas should surrender or vacate power in Gaza.
Pressed by host Martha MacCallum, he dodged again:
“I don’t really have opinions about the future of Hamas and Israel beyond the question of justice and safety.”
Critics say Mamdani’s non-answers reveal a consistent pattern of moral equivocation — condemning Israel but never Hamas. His record includes opposing the use of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism and defending the slogan “Globalize the Intifada,” a phrase openly calling for violent uprisings against Jews worldwide.
Sliwa and Cuomo Unite in Condemnation
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa sided with Cuomo, denouncing Mamdani’s rhetoric as “dangerous, divisive, and deeply antisemitic.” He warned that allowing such language into mainstream politics would embolden hate groups and undermine public safety in America’s largest Jewish city.
Cuomo later told reporters:
“You can’t claim to stand for peace while echoing Hamas propaganda. New York deserves moral clarity — not cowardice.”
Background: A Candidate Out of Step with New York
Mamdani, an assemblyman from Queens, has become one of the loudest anti-Israel voices in American politics. On October 8, 2023 — just one day after the Hamas massacre of over 1,200 Israelis — he accused Israel of “collective punishment” rather than condemning Hamas atrocities. His rhetoric since has drawn rebukes from Jewish groups and Democratic leaders alike.
With polls tightening and public sentiment shifting sharply pro-Israel after October 7, Mamdani’s stance may prove politically toxic in a city where more than 1.6 million Jews call home.
