From “Globalize The Intifada” To Gaza 5K, Mamdani’s Controversies Keep Growing
Tuesday, October 14, 2025, 2:30 P.M. ET. 4 Minute Read, By Jennifer Hodges: Englebrook Independent News,
MANHATTAN, NY.- New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is under fire this week after participating in a Gaza 5K charity marathon over the weekend that raised funds for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), an organization accused by Israel and the United States of employing Hamas operatives involved in the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks.
The event, held in Manhattan and sponsored by UNRWA USA, sought to raise money for humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza. Mamdani promoted the race on social media, writing that he ran “to stand in solidarity with Palestinian civilians” and to “support life-saving aid.” His campaign described the participation as “humanitarian, not political.”
However, the decision has ignited sharp criticism from Jewish community leaders, human rights advocates, and rival campaigns, who argue that the candidate’s involvement lends legitimacy to a U.N. agency that has faced international condemnation.
Israel’s intelligence agencies reported earlier this year that at least twelve UNRWA employees were directly involved in Hamas’s October 7 assault, which left more than 1,200 Israelis dead and over 250 taken hostage. The U.S. State Department subsequently froze funding to the organization, describing its internal oversight as “irredeemably compromised.”
“Running to raise money for UNRWA, given its direct links to terror, is a moral failure,” said one Jewish civic leader in Brooklyn. “A mayor of New York should know better.”
An Agency Under Scrutiny;
Founded in 1949, UNRWA provides education, healthcare, and relief services for Palestinian refugees. The agency has been dogged by controversy for decades, including allegations of harboring militants and promoting antisemitic content in its schools. Following the October 7 revelations, the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom all suspended contributions pending investigation.
Despite the outcry, Mamdani defended his participation in the Gaza 5K, calling UNRWA “a lifeline for millions.” His campaign reiterated opposition to terrorism “in all its forms,” while accusing critics of “weaponizing humanitarian aid.”
Political observers, however, say the optics are damning. “This was a major strategic blunder,” said a senior Democratic operative familiar with New York’s electoral dynamics. “UNRWA is toxic politically. Associating with it puts Mamdani far outside the city’s mainstream.”
Rhetoric Resurfaces: “Globalize the Intifada”
This is not the first time Mamdani’s views on Israel have drawn attention. The candidate, who represents a progressive bloc of the Democratic Party, previously defended the chant “Globalize the Intifada,” a slogan widely condemned as endorsing violence against Jews.
Mamdani has said the phrase is “misunderstood,” claiming it reflects “international solidarity with liberation movements” rather than a call for violence. But he has repeatedly declined to disavow the slogan outright, even under pressure from Democratic colleagues.
Earlier this year, Mamdani cited the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in defense of his usage, comparing the Palestinian struggle to Jewish uprisings during World War II, a comparison the Museum denounced as “deeply offensive and historically inaccurate.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and other Democrats have urged Mamdani to explicitly repudiate the slogan, warning that his rhetoric risks normalizing extremism. During a June mayoral debate, Mamdani refused to condemn it, insisting that “political language is complex” and that his focus remains on “justice for all oppressed peoples.”
Political Consequences Mount;
In the wake of the marathon, Mamdani’s political opponents have seized on the controversy, framing it as evidence of an anti-Israel bias incompatible with leadership in the nation’s largest Jewish city.
“New York needs a mayor who builds bridges, not one who runs marathons for organizations tied to terrorists,” said Councilmember Eric Dinowitz (D-Bronx). “This is a question of moral judgment, not foreign policy.”
Mamdani, however, has remained defiant. In a post following the event, he wrote:
“I ran for Gaza because I believe in humanity, dignity, and justice. The people attacking this cause are the same ones ignoring Palestinian suffering.”
Still, analysts note the issue has the potential to dominate the mayoral race in the coming weeks. With tensions high across communities and foreign policy now bleeding into local politics, Mamdani’s stance on Israel and Hamas may define his candidacy, and possibly its end.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
This reporting in this article is based on verifiable public records, official statements, and reporting from news outlets, including Fox News, The Times of Israel, The Guardian, Gothamist, and JNS. Zohran Mamdani has denied any support for terrorism and maintains that his advocacy concerns humanitarian relief for Palestinians. All quotations are drawn from on-record sources or published public statements.
