Hamas attack on Israel highlights frays between NY Democrats

The surprise attack on Israel over the weekend has further exposed an already frayed relationship between two factions of New York’s Democratic Party: the organization’s more-moderate leadership that has typically come out in support of Israel, and the party’s left flank, which has often been more willing to show support for Palestinian causes.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, Gov. Kathy Hochul, state Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs and the leaders of the state Senate and Assembly all issued statements denouncing a Times Square rally held Sunday in support of Palestine. It came a day after Hamas militants infiltrated Israel, launching a battle that has left more than 1,000 dead and thousands more injured, according to the Associated Press.

That rally, which drew a crowd of hundreds as well as a pro-Israeli counter-protest, was promoted on social media by the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, or DSA — an organization that counts a handful of state and federal lawmakers from New York among its members, including Bronx Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman.

In a statement Saturday night, Hochul condemned the pro-Palestine rally as "abhorrent and morally repugnant." She did not mention the DSA by name. Asked specifically Monday whether she was specifically criticizing the DSA, Hochul told reporters that she "condemned everyone involved" in the rally.

"I was not selective," she said. "I condemned the whole concept of having a rally at a time when they're still counting bodies, still trying to find out where children are, trying to find out where elderly Holocaust survivors are."

The DSA’s promotion of the event drew direct condemnation from Jacobs, who has frequently clashed with the organization and the more left-leaning members of the party.

“The New York State Democratic Party strongly condemns the ‘NYC-DSA’ whose support of a rally that sought to justify the wholly unjustifiable acts of wonton violence, terrorism, kidnapping and murder that was perpetrated on the people of Israel this weekend,” Jacobs said in a statement Sunday.

The leadership of New York’s Democratic and Republican parties — as well as the state’s highest officeholders, like Hochul and her predecessors in the governor’s office — have long been vocal supporters of Israel, often while noting New York City is home to one of the largest Jewish populations in the world.

The city chapter of the DSA was not listed among the rally organizers, but has long been a supporter of boycotts, disinvestments and economic sanctions against Israel. On Saturday, the chapter posted the event’s details on its X account, formerly known as Twitter, along with the message: “In solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to resist 75 years of occupation and apartheid. FREE PALESTINE!”

Asked for comment Monday, the NYC DSA pointed to a statement by the national DSA, which said the organization is “steadfast in expressing our solidarity with Palestine.”

“We unequivocally condemn the killing of all civilians,” the statement reads. “It is imperative for international human rights law to be respected. But we cannot forget that the Israeli state has systematically denied Palestinians the right to self-determination for decades.”

Ocasio-Cortez, a DSA-endorsed lawmaker, did not attend the rally and did not promote it. She issued a statement denouncing Hamas’ attacks while supporting a ceasefire — a position opposed by Israel’s supporters who say the country must defend itself.

“I condemn Hamas’ attack in the strongest possible terms,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “No child and family should ever endure this kind of violence and fear, and this violence will not solve the ongoing oppression and occupation in the region. An immediate ceasefire and de-escalation is urgently needed to save lives.”

Bowman, whose past positions on Israel have rankled some of his fellow DSA members, condemned Hamas’ attack while calling for “a way to end this deadly violence,” which he said included Israel’s “blockade of Gaza.”

Like Jacobs, Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx) directly singled out the DSA as he condemned the pro-Palestine rally. Other New York Democrats spoke out against the rally without directly mentioning the organization.

“I can’t think of anything more ill-timed and cold-hearted than today's demonstration in Times Square,” Schumer posted to X late Sunday night. “We’ve seen unprecedented viciousness coming from Hamas aimed at innocent families and children. Everyone—no matter your views—should condemn this brutal act.”

State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani (D-Queens), a DSA member, issued a statement Sunday saying he mourns “the hundreds of people killed across Israel and Palestine in the last 36 hours.” But he said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration of war and decision to cut power to Gaza will “undoubtedly lead to more violence and suffering in the days and weeks to come.”

“The path toward a just and lasting peace can only begin by ending the occupation and dismantling apartheid,” Mamdani said.

It is really past time the Alt Left moron club get a lesson in history. These morons think there is a racial issue here. No there is not

Arabs are not black. They are a semite people just like the Jews.

It is really sick that the same black racists that whine non stop about “Slavery” so enthusiastically embrace their Arab slave masters who traded sooner, longer, in far greater numbers, with even greater savagery in African slaves. The Arab slave trade was ended finally in the early 20th century by the British Navy and diplomatic pressure brought by both France and Britain

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