New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani dined at Ayat Hinds Hall, a Palestinian restaurant on the Upper West Side, on Oct. 7, 2024—the third anniversary of the Hamas-led attacks on Israel. The visit occurred days after Mamdani faced bipartisan backlash for a social media post marking the anniversary, which criticized Israel’s military response in Gaza while acknowledging the initial Hamas attacks.
Mamdani’s Oct. 7 statement described the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza as ongoing, stating that it ‘did not begin nor end’ with the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. He wrote: ‘The suffering did not begin nor end that day. It instead continued through the Israeli government’s devastating, ongoing genocide in Gaza, in which it has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians—including more than 21,000 children.’ Mamdani also referenced what he described as Israeli actions such as targeting ambulances, drone strikes on residential buildings, and restrictions on food aid.
Reactions to Mamdani’s statement included criticism from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) posted on social media that there were ‘364 other days’ to criticize Israel, while Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.) called the remarks ‘reprehensible’ and accused Mamdani of prioritizing ‘extreme activism’ over leadership. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) urged critics to express condolences for the thousands of Israelis killed, maimed, or abducted by Hamas. Some Republicans also condemned Mamdani’s comments, with one referring to him as ‘Comrade Mamdani’ in a post.
During the controversy, Mamdani attended a vigil organized by Israelis for Peace in Union Square, where he was heckled by pro-Palestinian protesters shouting, ‘Traitor, traitor, come on out, you sold all your people out!’ Following the vigil, Mamdani met with Palestinian New Yorkers. His Oct. 7 statement did not mention the Jewish community in New York City, which numbers nearly 1 million people, according to a 2023 study by the UJA-Federation of New York.
Ayat Hinds Hall, where Mamdani dined, has previously faced criticism for its menu, which included a section titled ‘From the River to the Sea’—a phrase the Anti-Defamation League defines as an implicit call for the eradication of Israel. The menu also featured phrases such as ‘Down with the occupation’ in English, Arabic, and Hebrew, as well as a map labeling the West Bank, Gaza, Jerusalem, and Israel as Palestine. The restaurant’s owner, Abdul Elenani, has stated support for a two-state solution and condemned violence on both sides, though critics have accused the establishment of antisemitism.
Neither Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) nor House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) have publicly addressed Mamdani’s Oct. 7 statement or his subsequent actions. Mamdani’s office has not responded to requests for further comment on the controversy.