From Doha to Beirut, leading Arabic-language outlets have celebrated Zohran Mamdani’s upset victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary as proof that public support for the Palestinian cause is reshaping US politics—and eroding what they describe as the “pro-Israel establishment.”
In its straight-news lead, Al Jazeera Arabic called the 33-year-old state assemblyman “the first Muslim candidate to capture a city-wide primary in America’s largest Jewish population centre,” and highlighted his tweet accusing Israel of “committing genocide” in Gaza. The network told readers that Mamdani’s win “strikes fear in the pro-Israel establishment, according to Haaretz,” framing the result as a marker of dwindling Democratic consensus on Israel.
Dubai-based Asharq News splashed the headline “Supports the Palestinian cause…Mamdani clinches Democratic nod,” describing him as an “Indian-American who backs the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.” The four-minute read reminded audiences that a Mamdani administration could become “the first time a declared BDS supporter occupies City Hall in New York,” a prospect it said would “embarrass” the outgoing pro-Israel mayor Eric Adams.
London–Doha outlet Al-Araby al-Jadeed struck an even more exuberant tone. Under the banner “Pro-Gaza Muslim defeats moderates,” it argued that establishment Democrats had tried to “weaponise antisemitism” against a candidate “who centres Palestinian rights at every rally,” only to be thwarted by youthful, union-backed voters. The story quoted Mamdani’s promise to build “a city where Palestinians are seen and heard” and cast his rise as generational revenge for Israel’s war in Gaza.
Lebanon’s left-wing daily Al-Akhbar went further still, writing that Mamdani’s candidacy is “not pleasing to Israel” and calling the upset “a slap to the Zionist lobby.” In a sidebar, the paper mused that a BDS-friendly mayor could even press for the arrest of Israeli officials who visit New York.
Not every outlet led with Palestine: Saudi business site Al Arabiya focused on “market unease” over Mamdani’s tax-and-spend platform but flagged his BDS record as a top concern for Wall Street investors. Still, across the spectrum, the dominant storyline was clear: a Muslim, pro-Gaza socialist had humbled a well-funded centrist in the heart of America’s financial—and Jewish—capital.
BDS résumé in the spotlight
All five outlets spotlighted Mamdani’s history of lobbying Ben & Jerry’s to quit West Bank sales and sponsoring state legislation that would restrict New York charities operating in Israeli settlements. Several noted his habit of referring to Israel as an “apartheid regime,” while contrasting him with former governor Andrew Cuomo, who in 2016 ordered New York agencies to cut business ties with companies that boycott Israel.
Although a New York mayor cannot dictate US foreign policy, City Hall helps steer billions of dollars in procurement contracts and sits on public-pension boards that hold Israeli equities. Commentators across the Arab press framed those levers as potential pressure points for a BDS-sympathetic administration. They also suggested a symbolic impact: the possibility that the largest Jewish diaspora city could soon be led by someone who describes Gaza solidarity as central to his political identity.