NEW YORK (VINnews) — Mayor Zohran Mamdani used a St. Patrick’s Day breakfast at Gracie Mansion as a platform to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, drawing parallels between Ireland’s history and the struggles of Palestinians.

Speaking alongside former Irish President Mary Robinson, Mamdani criticized what he called the “deafening silence from so many” on the Israel-Hamas conflict. He praised Robinson for her human rights work and her advocacy for Palestinians, saying, “Her solidarity is many things — unwavering, sincere, and chief among them Irish.”

Mamdani compared the struggles of the Irish, both in Ireland and in New York, to those of Palestinians, calling the ongoing violence in Gaza “genocide” and urging broader attention to humanitarian concerns. He also thanked Irish New Yorkers for supporting what he described as the “fight for a future of justice.”

Robinson highlighted a range of global conflicts, including Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, noting that Ireland’s own history of famine, exile, and conflict resonates with the suffering of displaced populations worldwide.

The mayor’s remarks came just hours before he was scheduled to attend a Catholic mass and participate in the city’s St. Patrick’s Day parade. Earlier, Mamdani admitted uncertainty when asked about his position on a unified Ireland.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani Hosts Breakfast to Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day https://t.co/bkzgu6Lrvs

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) March 17, 2026