Following the release of the hostages from Hamas captivity, the return of Palestinians to their homes in Gaza, and two years of Americans watching how their "tax dollars have funded a genocide," there is "a glimmer of hope" in the Middle East, American New York City Democratic mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani stated in a Monday post to X/Twitter.
"There is finally a glimmer of hope that this ceasefire will hold and the long difficult work of reconstruction can begin," Mamdani wrote. "I also know this news brings solace to millions of New Yorkers, who’ve felt the pain of the past few years. We have watched as our tax dollars have funded a genocide. The moral and human cost will be a lasting stain and requires accountability and real examination of our collective conscience and our government’s policies."
Mamdani previously hadn't offered any comment in hours following the release of the hostages, as the other candidates in the race for City Hall, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa, celebrated the development as a critical step toward peace in the region.
The 20 remaining hostages were returned around 5 a.m. Eastern time Monday. In exchange, Israel released some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and committed to a ceasefire in its war with Hamas, launched in response to the October 7, 2023, terror attack.
Within hours of the release of the hostages, Cuomo, an ardent supporter of Israel who’s running as an independent in the November 4 mayoral election, said the development is “more than a diplomatic success.”
“It is a moral moment, a reminder of our shared humanity and the sacred value of every life,” the ex-governor said in a statement.
“We must never forget the terrorist act that brought us here, and we must stand together to say, with one voice: never forget and never again. Terrorism has no place in Gaza, in the Middle East, or anywhere in the world.”
Sliwa, the Republican mayoral nominee who’s polling behind both Mamdani and Cuomo, offered thanks to President Donald Trump, whose administration helped broker the ceasefire deal.
“We pray that these hostages coming home can recover and live peacefully again. We are proud of President Trump and all involved for making this peace deal happen,” Sliwa wrote on X.
Mamdani's lack of public comment
Mamdani, who as the Democratic nominee is polling as the favorite to win next month’s mayoral election, hadn’t issued any comment as of 2 p.m. Monday. A spokeswoman for his campaign only said it was “TBD” as to whether he would send out a statement on the ceasefire agreement.
Cuomo argued that Mamdani’s lack of public comment is troubling.
“His silence speaks volumes,” Cuomo wrote in a post on X.
A fierce critic of Israel’s war in Gaza, Mamdani has accused the country’s government of perpetrating a genocide against Palestinians, citing a finding by a United Nations commission. He has said he would, as mayor, direct the NYPD to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on war crime charges leveled by the International Criminal Court.
Mamdani has come under fire for his position on Israel, including statements in which he has declined to back the right of Israel to exist as a Jewish state.
On Sunday, as word of the hostage releases started circulating, Mamdani posted a photo of himself running in the NYC Gaza 5K race through Prospect Park, which raised money for the United Nations’ main aid agency for Palestinian refugees.
“This morning I ran the NYC Gaza 5K in Prospect Park for the third time, alongside the Harlem Run Club, to raise money for @unrwausa, which delivers critical humanitarian aid and services to Palestinians in Gaza,” he wrote on X, using a link for the UN group. “I hope you’ll join me in donating.”
Mayor Eric Adams, who abandoned his bid for reelection last month, joined Cuomo and Sliwa in celebrating the release of the hostages, saying “our hearts are filled with joy as an end to the war in Gaza appears to be on the horizon and families have finally been united.”
“We pray that this news will bring lasting peace, justice, and prosperity to Israelis and Palestinians alike,” Adams said in a statement.