Jewish groups criticize NYC Mayor Mamdani for sharing 'Nakba Day' video describing ongoing ‘catastrophe’

“Nakba Day” protesters gathered in New York and other cities. A video from Washington Square Park showed the crowd calling for Israel’s destruction and stomping on the Israeli flag. The mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, shared a video marking "Nakba Day" on Friday, describing the Nakba as a “catastrophe” that Palestinians say began with the displacement of more than 700,000 people during Israel’s 1948 War of Independence and continues today.

“Nakba is Arabic for ‘catastrophe,’” the text in the video stated. “It refers to the expulsion and displacement of more than 700,000 Palestinians between 1947 and 1949 during the creation of the State of Israel and the year that followed.”

“The Haganah, Irgun and Lehi militias, among others, destroyed more than 400 Palestinian villages and cities, killing thousands of Palestinians and carrying out dozens of massacres,” the video states. “May 15 is the annual commemoration of the Nakba. For Palestinians, their displacement and the Nakba continue to this day.”

The video shared by Mamdani featured an interview with New York resident Inea Bushnaq, described as a “Nakba survivor.” In the clip, Bushnaq says that she fled her home because “the Zionists were coming into Jerusalem,” and noted that keys are used as a symbol of the “right of return.”

“People, of course, locked their houses when they left, and all they had of it was the key when it turned out there was no going back,” she said in the video. “It became sort of a symbol – you have the key but not the house.”

Critics, including Jewish groups, said Mamdani’s post presented a one-sided account of the 1948 War of Independence, noting it omitted Arab invasions, Jewish expulsions from Arab countries, and related violence against civilians.

The UJA-Federation of New York also criticized Mamdani, saying: “The refugees you post about exist because 22 Arab states launched a war to destroy Israel.”

“In its aftermath, 800,000 Jews were expelled from Arab lands. Your post mentions none of this. And you chose 5:40 PM on Friday to post it – as Jewish New Yorkers prepare to light Shabbat candles. We noticed,” the Jewish Federation added.

New York State Brooklyn Assemblymember Simcha Eisenstein accused Mamdani of fueling Jew-hatred in New York. NYPD data reveals that more hate crimes are committed against Jews than against all other groups combined.

“Still wondering why hatred against Jews is so high in NYC? We have a mayor who is using government resources to disseminate a narrative and incite hostile propaganda,” Eisenstein said.

“Mr. International Law guy forgot to include the fact that the Arab world rejected the UN’s partition plan to establish a Palestinian state,” Eisenstein continued, mocking Mamdani for saying he supports international law.

New York State Queens Assemblymember Sam Berger accused Mamdani of denying Israel’s right to exist, saying, “Rewriting history to portray the existence of Israel itself as the original sin is not education or remembrance. It is propaganda.”

Mamdani has been criticized by some pro-Israel groups for his public statements on Israel and the conflict. He has referred to Israeli actions in Gaza as “genocide” following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people. He has also said during his campaign that he would consider arresting Netanyahu if he entered New York while he was mayor, and later faced criticism over his stance on antisemitism definitions and related policy positions.