Mamdani Breaks Silence, Labels Hamas A Terror Group After Delayed Response To Pro-Hamas Chants at Queens Shul

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly condemned chants supporting Hamas terrorists after initially remaining silent for a day following a pro-Palestinian protest outside a Queens synagogue that sparked widespread outrage.

The hateful incident erupted Thursday night, when demonstrators gathered outside a Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills to protest an Israel real estate information event. Videos that quickly spread online showed protesters chanting, “Say it loud, say it clear, we support Hamas here,” as they marched through the predominantly Jewish area. Baruch Hashem, no one was injured during the protest, and due to barricades erected by the NYPD, attendees to the shul event were able to move freely to and from the venue.

While condemnation from elected officials across the political spectrum came swiftly, Mamdani’s response lagged behind. By Friday afternoon, his office had issued no formal statement, even as the footage garnered millions of views and prompted denunciations from state and federal leaders.

Mamdani’s first public comment came only after a direct question from a Politico reporter during a Brooklyn political event on Friday. As he was escorted to his car, the mayor said, “That language is wrong. I think that language has no place in New York City.”

Later that day, Mamdani issued a written statement to The New York Times, expanding on his remarks and explicitly categorizing the chants as support for terrorism. “Chants in support of a terrorist organization have no place in our city,” he wrote, referring to Hamas terrorists by name.

The mayor added that city officials were coordinating with the NYPD to ensure public safety. “My team is in close touch with the NYPD regarding last night’s protest and counterprotest. We will continue to ensure New Yorkers’ safety entering and exiting houses of worship, as well as the constitutional right to protest,” he said.

The delayed response drew sharp criticism from Jewish leaders and pro-Israel advocates, who questioned why Mamdani did not immediately denounce the chants. Assemblyman Sam Berger, whose district includes the area where the protest took place, publicly called out the mayor for his silence earlier Friday.

Other officials left little ambiguity in their reactions. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “Let’s be clear: Hamas is a terrorist organization committed to the destruction of Jews,” while New York Attorney General Letitia James stated, “Hamas is a terrorist organization. We do not support terrorists. Period.”

On Saturday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also weighed in, calling the chants “disgusting and antisemitic,” and condemning the decision to bring such rhetoric into a Jewish neighborhood.

The episode has underscored the political tightrope Mamdani faces as mayor, with a progressive base that is virulently anti-Israel while governing a city that is home to the largest Jewish population outside of the Jewish state. Mamdani, in his rapper days, praised the “Holy Land Five,” a group of people jailed for funneling money to Hamas, and was the founder of his college’s Students for Justice in Palestine group.