New York City Mayor Eric Mamdani faced renewed criticism this weekend for his initial response to pro-Hamas chants that erupted during a demonstration outside a Queens synagogue Thursday, ultimately reaffirming his condemnation of the rhetoric. The incident has ignited a political firestorm and intensified scrutiny of the mayor’s stance on the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
NYC Mayor Defends Response to Pro-Hamas Chants Outside Synagogue
The mayor clarified his position after facing accusations of a delayed response to the demonstration outside Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills.
- Protesters rallied against a real estate event in Jerusalem, chanting slogans of support for Hamas.
- Governor Kathy Hochul and former Mayor Eric Adams swiftly condemned the chants as “revolting” and “dangerous.”
- Mamdani initially responded with a broader statement about ensuring safety and the right to protest, later adding a specific denunciation of Hamas.
- The incident follows a similar protest in November that prompted an NYPD inquiry into police handling.
“No matter your political beliefs, this type of rhetoric is disgusting, it’s dangerous, and it has no place in New york.”
Mamdani’s initial response, issued around 1 p.m. on friday, focused on ensuring the safety of those entering and exiting houses of worship and upholding the constitutional right to protest. “My team is in close touch with the NYPD regarding last night’s protest and counterprotest,” he said in the statement. Critics pointed to the fact that former Mayor Eric Adams had already rebuked the protesters on social media prior to Mamdani’s initial statement.
Later on friday, after facing criticism for not explicitly denouncing Hamas, mamdani posted on social media, “Chants in support of a terrorist institution have no place in our city.” He reiterated his commitment to ensuring safety and the right to protest.
The mayor has faced increasing scrutiny from New York’s Jewish community due to his comments and positions regarding Israel and the war in Gaza, which some perceive as fueling antisemitism. When questioned about the delay in his response during Saturday’s event, Mamdani stated he commented “around the same time” as Adams and “made very clear something that is consistent with my own politics and my own policies.”
“Not only was that wrong, but also that it has no place in our city,” he added.
Thursday’s protest mirrored a similar incident that occurred outside the Park East Synagogue on Nov. 19. That protest, where pro-Palestinian demonstrators were allowed to gather directly outside the Upper East side synagogue, also sparked a political uproar. following that event, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch attended a service at the synagogue and apologized for the police not establishing a “frozen zone” around the building. the NYPD’s Internal affairs bureau subsequently launched an investigation into the police handling of the Nov. 19 protest.
