Liked posts on Oct. 7 draw criticism; mayor defends wife while opponents demand answers
NYC First Lady’s Social Media Activity on Oct. 7 Draws National Scrutiny
New York City First Lady Rama Duwaji, wife of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, became the subject of intense national scrutiny in early March 2026 after a detailed report by Jewish Insider revealed that she had liked multiple social media posts on and around October 7, 2023 — the day of Hamas’s deadly attack on Israel — that characterized those attacks favorably, including one describing them as “breaking the walls of apartheid.” The report, published March 6, 2026, ignited a firestorm of criticism from Jewish organizations, Republican politicians, and some Democrats, while progressives and allies of the mayor defended Duwaji and questioned the framing of the story. The controversy surfaced at a particularly charged moment: less than 48 hours later, improvised explosive devices would be thrown outside Gracie Mansion during an anti-Muslim rally, underscoring the volatile atmosphere surrounding the city’s first Muslim mayor and his family.
What the Posts Said
According to reporting by Jewish Insider and subsequently confirmed by NBC New York, Duwaji liked a post on Instagram on the day after the Hamas attack that described the assault as “resistance” against Israel. The post characterized Gaza’s population as “isolated and segregated, intentionally kept in poverty” and described Hamas’s incursion as “breaking the walls of apartheid.” Approximately 35,000 other accounts also liked the same post. Duwaji also liked a separate post, according to the Jewish Insider report, that called an investigation into sexual violence committed on October 7 a “hoax” — a characterization that drew some of the harshest condemnations from critics. It is worth noting that the credibility of reports regarding sexual violence on October 7 has been the subject of competing investigations and journalism, with some findings contested and others documented. The New York Times conducted extensive reporting on sexual violence that day, while other publications raised questions about specific accounts. Readers are encouraged to consult multiple sources, including UN reports on conflict-related sexual violence, to form their own assessment. Duwaji liked the post approximately a year and a half before she married Mamdani.
Mayor’s Response
Mayor Mamdani addressed the controversy briefly when asked by reporters on March 6. While he did not directly disavow each post his wife had liked, he stated that he and Duwaji do not condone Hamas’s attack and that the reporting was being used to distort her views. The mayor has consistently condemned the October 7 attacks but has also been a vocal critic of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, which he has called disproportionate. Progressive allies noted that the mayor’s own public positions — including his criticism of what he described as collective punishment in Gaza — are well-established and distinct from any social media activity of his spouse.
Political Reactions Across the Spectrum
The report drew immediate and sharp condemnation from Jewish community organizations and Republican leaders. Critics argued that a sitting mayor’s spouse who had expressed sympathy with Hamas framing, even before their marriage, raised serious questions about the values of the administration. Some advocates called for Mamdani to issue a stronger public repudiation. On the left, multiple advocacy groups pushed back against what they characterized as guilt-by-association journalism, noting that liking a social media post in 2023 does not constitute endorsement of a terrorist attack, and pointing out that the posts Duwaji liked contained both political commentary and advocacy about Palestinian suffering alongside statements about the attack itself. The Free Press, a publication known for critical coverage of progressive politics, ran a piece focused specifically on the “hoax” allegation, which generated significant social media circulation among conservative commentators.
Context and Ongoing Debate
The controversy reflects broader tensions in New York City and across the country over how to discuss the October 7 attacks, the war in Gaza, and Palestinian rights in ways that are accurate, fair, and do not conflate political advocacy with support for terrorism. Advocates on all sides acknowledge that the language around these issues is contested, and that social media activity from years ago is an imperfect and reductive window into a person’s full views. The mayor has consistently condemned violence against civilians, Israeli and Palestinian alike. Jewish Insider’s original reporting on the social media activity is available for readers to review and assess. The debate over what constitutes fair comment, what constitutes anti-Semitism, and what constitutes legitimate criticism of Israeli government policy continues to be a defining fault line in American public life. The Anti-Defamation League tracks antisemitism and maintains resources that distinguish between criticism of Israeli policy and antisemitic expression. The Mamdani Post will continue to report on this story as it develops and welcomes letters from readers with a range of perspectives.
