New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani has come under renewed scrutiny after a resurfaced video showed him leading chants against what he termed “Israeli settler violence” during a mid-2023 rally in Manhattan, months before Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
The footage, widely circulated on social media, shows the Democratic Socialist lawmaker from Queens addressing demonstrators in Midtown Manhattan. Speaking through a megaphone, Mamdani urged an end to “Israeli violence” and condemned New York’s alleged “complicity” in the conflict.
“We are calling for the end of our complicity as New Yorkers,” Mamdani told the crowd, leading chants of “Not on our dime!” to oppose public or charitable support for Israeli causes.
Background of the Rally
The July 2023 rally was organised in support of a bill introduced by Mamdani in the New York State Assembly seeking to end tax-exempt status for organisations funding Israeli military or settlement activities. Though the bill did not advance, it attracted widespread attention from both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups.
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Mamdani’s Remarks and Criticism
In his speech, Mamdani criticised what he described as a double standard in American politics concerning Palestinian rights.
“When I grew up, I saw politicians speak of universal rights and then draw the line at Palestine,” he said.
The event was briefly disrupted by a heckler who accused the assemblyman of being “part of the problem.” Mamdani responded by reigniting chants from the crowd.
Political Background
Representing Astoria in Queens, Mamdani has been a consistent critic of US military aid to Israel.
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“I was told to stay silent about Palestine if I wanted to win,” he recalled, “but I chose to speak for justice—whether in Astoria or in Palestine.”
The resurfaced video has reignited discussions over Mamdani’s foreign policy stance as he leads in the New York mayoral race.
