Israel's UN Ambassador Criticizes NYC Mayor's Remarks on October 7 Anniversary

<p>Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over his message commemorating the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks. Danon compared Mamdani’s framing of the event to 'turning September 11 into a day of mourning for al-Qaeda terrorists.'</p><p>Danon accused Mamdani of attempting to 'hijack' the anniversary after the mayor commemorated the more than 1,100 Israelis killed by Hamas, while also making accusations of 'genocide,' 'occupation,' and 'apartheid' against Israel.</p><p>In a post on X, Danon stated, 'Mamdani-ism' is an attempt to hijack the anniversary of October 7 and turn it into yet another propaganda attack against Israel. He added, 'We will not let this happen. We will remember those who were murdered, and we will never forget who was behind this massacre.'</p><p>Mamdani’s post described the anniversary as 'profoundly painful for so many New Yorkers' and referred to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack as 'horrific war crimes.' He noted that Hamas killed over 1,100 Israelis and abducted 251 others, expressing grief for the loss.</p><p>The mayor's statement also addressed the ongoing conflict in Gaza, accusing the Israeli government of committing 'devastating, ongoing genocide' and citing a Palestinian death toll of over 74,000, including more than 21,000 children.</p><p>Mamdani accused Israel of bombing ambulances, targeting residential buildings, and turning away food aid at border crossings. Israel has disputed these allegations, asserting that it does not deliberately target civilians and has issued warnings to Palestinian civilians before attacks.</p><p>Additionally, Mamdani criticized the U.S. government for its military support of Israel, stating, 'Three years later, we must refuse to accept a world in which occupation and apartheid continue, where war crimes are met with impunity.'</p><p>Danon was not alone in his objections to Mamdani’s remarks. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders called it 'disgusting and shameful' to use October 7th to repeat Hamas’ talking points. Former U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley condemned Mamdani's comments, stating that Hamas committed atrocities against Israelis and Americans on that day.</p><p>Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, criticized Mamdani for not specifically mentioning Jews in his remarks, stating that the mayor was 'weaponizing a day meant for mourning the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.'</p><p>On October 7, 2023, Hamas-led terrorists attacked southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 hostages. Israelis marked the anniversary with memorials and vigils for those killed and abducted.</p>