NEW YORK (VINnews) — Backlash against New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani intensified Tuesday after a video surfaced online following his criticism of Israel over the death of Ahmed Wishah, an Al Jazeera reporter killed in Gaza.

During a Monday press briefing, Mamdani condemned Israel and cited Wishah’s death as an example of the human toll of the conflict.

The controversy escalated after pro-Israel activists and commentators circulated video footage they said showed Wishah carrying a weapon and participating in militant activities.

Among those highlighting the footage was Lizzy Savetsky, who criticized the mayor for mourning an individual she argued was involved with an armed group.

The video spread widely on social media, fueling debate over Mamdani’s remarks and prompting renewed scrutiny of claims surrounding Wishah’s role in Gaza.

The dispute quickly became a flashpoint in the broader debate over the Israel-Hamas war and the identities of individuals killed during the conflict.

How Zohran Mamdani portrays Al Jazeera "cameraman" Ahmed Wishah

VS.

Who Al Jazeera's Ahmed Wishah really was pic.twitter.com/cAHLXxAl3z

— Eitan Fischberger (@EFischberger) June 23, 2026

Zohran Mamdani justifying his hateful comments calling AIPAC monstes said: "Even an Al Jazeera journalist, Ahmed Wishah, was killed this past Saturday by an Israeli strike. And when I am speaking about @AIPAC, I’m speaking about an organization that has been supportive of the… pic.twitter.com/UalIhZjTS4

— Rabbi Poupko (@RabbiPoupko) June 23, 2026

Who knew that “journalism” required such a broad range of skills? https://t.co/qAxJYJ04Gn

— Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) June 23, 2026

In the same breath that @ZohranKMamdani was referring to Jews as “monsters,” he was praising Ahmed Wishah—an Al Jazeera “journalist” whose death was later mourned in Palestinian obituaries.

Very on brand for our mayor.

Source: @Osint613 pic.twitter.com/O9wjVF0zzp

— Lizzy Savetsky (@LizzySavetsky) June 23, 2026