Democratic New York City mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani declined multiple times Wednesday to say whether Hamas should disarm and relinquish power in Gaza, following President Donald Trump’s recently brokered peace deal between Israel and the terrorist organization.
The 20-point peace agreement, unveiled by the Trump administration earlier this week, requires Hamas to permanently lay down its weapons and surrender control of Gaza as a condition for long-term stability in the region. But during an interview on Fox News’ “The Story with Martha MacCallum,” Mamdani repeatedly avoided addressing whether Hamas should comply.
“Do you believe that Hamas should lay down their weapons and leave the leadership in Gaza?” MacCallum asked.
Mamdani responded by pivoting to local issues. “I believe that any future here in New York City is one that we have to make sure that’s affordable for all,” he said. “And as it pertains to Israel and Palestine that we have to ensure that there is peace. And that is the future we have to fight for.”
When pressed again—“But you won’t say that Hamas should lay down their arms and give up leadership in Gaza?”—Mamdani still would not take a position.
“I don’t have opinions about the future of Hamas and Israel beyond the question of justice and safety and the fact that anything has to abide by international law,” he said. “And that applies to Hamas, that applies to the Israeli military. It applies to anyone you could ask me about.”
His refusal to take a clear stance comes as President Trump has vowed to enforce the terms of the peace accord with strength. “Well, they’re going to disarm, because they said they were going to disarm,” Trump told reporters Tuesday. “And if they don’t disarm, we will disarm them. They know I’m not playing games.”
Mamdani’s reluctance to denounce Hamas outright is not new. The Democratic Socialist lawmaker, who rose to prominence as a progressive voice in Queens, has previously faced criticism for refusing to condemn the slogan “globalize the intifada,” a phrase widely seen as encouraging violence against Jewish people.
On the second anniversary of Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel—a massacre that left more than a thousand Israelis dead—Mamdani again drew fire for accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of leading “a genocidal war,” while offering only a cursory condemnation of what he called the “horrific war crime” committed by Hamas.
Despite the controversy, Mamdani continues to lead the crowded New York City mayoral field. According to a new Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday, he holds 46 percent support among likely voters, followed by former Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo with 33 percent and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa at 15 percent.
For many New Yorkers, Mamdani’s silence on whether a U.S.-designated terrorist group should disarm raises questions about his judgment on matters of national security and moral clarity.
While his campaign emphasizes housing and affordability, his unwillingness to take a firm stance on terrorism underscores the growing divide between the city’s progressive wing and voters seeking leaders willing to defend America’s allies abroad.
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