(JNS) – New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani defended his decision to mark “Nakba Day” on official city channels, pushing back on criticism from Jewish community leaders.
Speaking at a press conference announcing a second municipally operated grocery store site in the Bronx, Mamdani said that the May 15 post “commemorates the expulsion of more than 700,000 Palestinians from 1947 to 1949 during the creation of the State of Israel and for the year that followed.”

🚨UPDATED: Mamdani stands by Nakba Day video amid fierce backlash:

“There are many Nakba survivors in New York City… acknowledging anyone's people's pain does not preclude you from the acknowledgement of another people's.”

Mamdani insists that his door “is always open” for… https://t.co/2MZVtlSIOs pic.twitter.com/sFm0B7pqr5

— Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) May 18, 2026

“I firmly believe that acknowledging any one people’s pain does not preclude you from the acknowledgment of another people’s,” the mayor said. “When it comes to New Yorkers like Inea and so many others, not only has their pain never been acknowledged, but so often we have seen that even their identity is up for debate.”

Inea was featured in the “Nakba” day video.

“My message to Jewish leaders across the city is that my door is always open, that I look forward to welcoming a number of those leaders to Gracie Mansion this evening through Shavuot,” Mamdani said.

Jewish leaders are reportedly planning to skip the upcoming event.