VIDEO: Mamdani called to defund Israelis before Oct. 7th attack

Mamdani was pushing a bill to revoke the tax-exempt status of any New York nonprofit alleged to be aiding Israel’s military or Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

A newly resurfaced video has reignited controversy around New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, showing him passionately urging an end to funding what he called “Israeli settler violence” at a rally held just months before Hamas’s October 7, 2023, terror attack.

The footage, recorded at a protest in Midtown Manhattan in July 2023, shows Mamdani leading chants of “not on our dime” while calling on New Yorkers to stop supporting Israel through charitable organizations.

“We are calling for the end of our complicity as New Yorkers,” he declared, telling the crowd that “the days of inconsistency in Palestine are over.”

The demonstration was organized to promote legislation Mamdani had introduced with Brooklyn State Senator Jabari Brisport. Their bill sought to revoke the tax-exempt status of any New York nonprofit alleged to be aiding Israel’s military or Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.

The measure would have empowered the state attorney general to strip those organizations of charitable standing, claiming they funneled “tens of millions of dollars” to groups accused of “war crimes.”

During his speech, Mamdani recounted how he was told early in his political career to avoid mentioning Israel if he wanted to win office. “I was told to keep my thoughts on Palestine to myself,” he said. “But I speak every day to my constituents about standing up for justice — whether in Astoria or in Palestine.”

The rally grew heated when a heckler accused Mamdani of hypocrisy as an elected official, prompting the assemblyman to drown out the interruption by restarting his chants. He also criticized progressive politicians who, in his view, supported human rights “except when it came to Palestinians.”

The clip resurfaced online this week, drawing renewed attention as Mamdani leads in polls ahead of next week’s mayoral election. His outspoken record on Israel has already drawn fire from opponents, who accuse him of siding with anti-Israel activists.

Mamdani, who represents Queens in the State Assembly, has faced growing scrutiny over his past statements on Israel and his proposed legislation targeting charities with ties to the Jewish state.