'No excuse for victim blaming': Mamdani under fire from Democrats over Oct 7 message

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's remarks on the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel has sparked controversy. Both Democrats and Jewish groups have criticized him for shifting focus from the victims to Israel's ongoing war in Gaza. While some on the pro-Palestinian left argue he did not go far enough in condemning the conflict.

Mamdani's statement condemned Hamas' "horrific war crimes," including the deaths of over 1,200 people and taking of more than 250 hostages. He called Israel's military campaign in Gaza a "devastating, ongoing genocide" and accused the US federal government of complicity through arms shipments. However, Mamdani's comments drew backlash from several Democratic lawmakers who accused him of desecrating the memory of the victims and "blaming the victims".

Some from the pro-Palestinian left also criticized him for not going far enough in supporting the Palestinian cause. Despite the criticism, Mamdani's stance resonated with many young and progressive voters, contributing to his rise to power.