Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, said Friday he would acknowledge President Donald Trump’s role in brokering a Gaza ceasefire if the agreement is fully implemented and “delivers peace.”“What this agreement can never do is erase what the last few years of tragedy have been for so many, whether it be Hamas’ horrific war crime of October 7, or the Israeli government’s genocide of Palestinians since,” Mamdani was quoted as saying by CNN. “What we are talking about is no agreement can bring back the rubble or make it whole,” he added. Mamdani has repeatedly described Israel’s offensive in Gaza as a “genocide,” a claim Israel denies. In a statement commemorating the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks, he condemned Hamas, Israel, and the US, which he accused of being “complicit” in Israel’s military actions.“If the genocide ends, then I think that’s something worthy to be praised, and if the hostages are returned. Those things together have to be done in tandem,” Mamdani said on Friday. The Israel-Gaza conflict have remained a persistent flashpoint in the mayoral race. In recent months, he has sought to strengthen support within the Jewish community while reaffirming his commitment to combating antisemitism. Mamdani’s stance on the conflict has drawn national and local attention as he campaigns to lead New York City, home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel, alongside significant Arab and Muslim communities.He has previously described the past two years of war as having “demonstrated the very worst of humanity” and called for an end to what he terms Israeli “occupation and apartheid.”The democratic socialist has faced criticism for previously refusing to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which some interpret as a call to violence. He has since stated he would discourage the use of the phrase. He also recently reaffirmed his plan to direct the NYPD to arrest Netanyahu if he visits New York.If elected, Mamdani would become New York City’s first Muslim mayor. His state assembly district encompasses one of the city’s largest Arab American communities, with Palestinian restaurants, coffee shops, and mosques lining the streets of Astoria, where he resides.
