New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani faced sharp criticism from Jewish leaders Wednesday after using his statement marking the third anniversary of the October 7 massacre to condemn Israel and accuse its government of genocide and war crimes.

Mamdani began his statement by acknowledging the Hamas-led attack, saying that Hamas killed more than 1,100 Israelis and abducted 251 people on October 7, 2023.

“This day is profoundly painful for so many New Yorkers,” Mamdani said, adding that the city grieves alongside those who continue to carry the loss.

Mamdani then turned to Israel’s subsequent war in Gaza, accusing the Israeli government of an “ongoing genocide” and referring to “occupation and apartheid.” He also accused the United States government of complicity in alleged war crimes through its continued arms shipments to Israel.

The statement drew immediate criticism from prominent Jewish and Israeli figures.

Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt criticized Mamdani for not explicitly mentioning Jews in the statement and accused the mayor of using a day of mourning for the October 7 massacre to advance his anti-Zionist positions.

Rabbi Marc Schneier, president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, similarly criticized the mayor, saying Jewish New Yorkers should have been given a day to mourn the victims without having their trauma redirected into criticism of Israel.

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon also condemned the statement, accusing Mamdani of attempting to turn the anniversary of the massacre into an attack against Israel.

The controversy came as Jewish communities across New York marked three years since the Hamas-led massacre with memorials and commemorations.

Mamdani was scheduled to attend an October 7 remembrance vigil Wednesday evening as part of his official public schedule.

The anniversary comes amid continued concern over antisemitism in New York City. According to NYPD figures released this week, Jewish New Yorkers were targeted in 53% of all confirmed hate crimes in the city during the first nine months of 2026.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch called the figure “deeply concerning” and pledged continued NYPD protection for Jewish communities and institutions.

For Jewish New Yorkers, Wednesday’s commemorations marked three years since the massacre and the abduction of hundreds of hostages, as communities across the city gathered to remember those murdered and honor the victims and survivors.