Meeting Member Zohran Mamdani (left( and Mayor Eric Adams.
Images by Lloyd Mitchell and Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Pictures Workplace
A microcosm of the divide over Israel among the many candidates within the New York Metropolis mayor’s race performed out on Friday morning as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was on the town.
Democratic nominee and front-runner Zohran Mamdani condemned Netanyahu earlier than he spoke in entrance of the United Nations Normal Meeting on Sept. 26 over Israel’s struggle with Hamas within the Gaza Strip.
On the identical time, Mayor Eric Adams, who’s operating a long-shot reelection marketing campaign, attended the speech and mentioned he was “particularly proud” to satisfy with Netanyahu afterwards. The marketing campaign of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, whom Mamdani additionally criticized Friday for his earlier protection of Israel, additionally swung again on the Democratic frontrunner for allegedly advocating a “Trumpian weaponization” of the mayor’s workplace to have interaction in worldwide politics.
Netanyahu delivered a speech, after dozens of world leaders exited the corridor earlier than he began, through which he rejected the notion of making a Palestinian state and vowed to proceed Israel’s army marketing campaign in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the United Nations Normal Meeting on Sept. 26, 2025.Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell
Israel’s almost two-year-long army offensive in Gaza — launched within the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist assaults by Hamas — has killed over 65,000 Palestinians, based on the Gaza Well being Ministry. The Israeli army invaded the enclave after Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis and took roughly 250 hostages, 20 of whom are nonetheless alive and being held captive.
Mamdani — a democratic socialist Meeting member who has lengthy been a pointy critic of the Israeli authorities — launched a press release invoking a UN Human Rights Council (HRC)-convened fee report earlier this month, which alleged that Israel is committing genocide towards Palestinians in Gaza.
“This morning, Benjamin Netanyahu will address the United Nations — an institution which has concluded his government is committing a genocide of Palestinians in Gaza,” Mamdani mentioned. “During the course of his speech, another Palestinian child will undoubtedly be killed by the Israeli military in Gaza, as they have been every single hour for nearly two years.”
For its half, Israel has strongly denied accusations of genocide and insisted it’s following worldwide legislation in its prosecution of the struggle.
Mamdani had beforehand pledged to honor an Worldwide Legal Court docket warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest if he turns into mayor — a vow that drew backlash from native Jewish leaders and that authorized specialists say would seemingly be unworkable.
The Democratic nominee additionally slammed Adams and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who’re each operating as independents, for his or her continued fervent assist of Israel and Netanyahu.
“Eric Adams will greet Netanyahu as a friend,” Mamdani mentioned.
“Andrew Cuomo proudly served on his legal defense team,” he added, referring to Cuomo volunteering to affix Netanyahu’s authorized protection towards the ICC arrest warrant final November.
Mayor Eric Adams assembly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the United Nations Normal Meeting. Friday, Sept. 26, 2025.Michael Appleton/Mayoral Pictures Workplace
In response to Mamdani, Cuomo spokesperson Wealthy Azzopardi referenced the previous governor’s current harsher rhetoric surrounding the toll of Israel’s onslaught, whereas accusing the lawmaker of looking for to make use of the mayor’s workplace to advance his “political agenda.”
“As the governor has said, what’s going on in Gaza is horrific, the hostages must be returned, the violence must end, and Hamas must be eliminated,” Azzopardi mentioned. “That said, Mamdani’s insistence on using the powers of the mayor to enforce his political agenda is a positively Trumpian illegal weaponization of the justice system.”
Alternatively, Mayor Adams touted his assembly with Netanyahu, which Hizzoner mentioned was to “thank him for defending the western world and our way of life.”
Adams framed his determination to assist Netanyahu as exhibiting assist for the town’s Jewish neighborhood and upholding the worth of welcoming overseas leaders to the UN Normal Meeting whom “we may not always agree with.”
“As your mayor, my oath is to protect New Yorkers against all enemies, both foreign and domestic, and Prime Minister Netanyahu laid out a clear case that those who call for the death of Jews across the globe are also calling for the death of Americans,” Adams mentioned in a press release. “At a time when much of the world is turning its back on the Jewish State of Israel, the mayor of the largest Jewish community outside of Israel must remain steadfast in our support for Israel, its right to defend itself, eliminate Hamas, and bring every single one of their hostages home.”
The mayor’s reward for Netanyahu comes as he hopes to take care of assist amongst Jewish voters throughout the town heading into the Nov. 4 basic election.
Nonetheless, public sentiment within the metropolis has broadly turned towards Israel’s struggle in Gaza. In accordance with current survey knowledge from Siena Faculty and the New York Instances, New Yorkers (44%) sympathized extra with Palestinians than with Israel (26%).
Moreover, a July Information for Progress ballot discovered that Mamdani’s condemnations of Israel and advocacy for Palestinian rights have been necessary to the overwhelming majority of his Democratic major voters.
