New York Democrats React to Gaza Ceasefire
While some New York Democrats offered tepid praise for the President on Thursday, prominent mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani specifically did not credit Trump for the recent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, pointing fingers at Israel instead.
The state’s Democrats are, perhaps unsurprisingly, “hoping” for a resolution between Israel and Hamas that might bring back the remaining hostages. In fact, one lawmaker even lambasted Trump, likening him to a “broken clock.”
When questioned about this significant development, Mamdani stated that he believes Israel is committing “war crimes” and “genocide” against Palestinians.
“I am hopeful for the news of a possible ceasefire. I really hope it lasts and brings peace,” he expressed in an interview, conveying a mix of optimism and doubt. However, he quickly pivoted to a stark accusation aimed mainly at Israel.
“Yet, within that hope, we must acknowledge that it cannot erase the tragedy that has unfolded over the past two years,” he added. “It is a tragedy due to Hamas’ horrific war crimes on October 7 and the Israeli government’s equally horrific actions that have resulted in the slaughter of Palestinians since.”
When asked if he thought Trump deserved any recognition for the peace agreement, Mamdani’s campaign referenced a radio interview but did not mention the president during the 1010 WINS chat.
This week, he faced backlash for his candid criticism of Israel as the anniversary of the October 7 attacks approached.
The ceasefire terms put forth by Trump involve a first phase that includes hostage releases and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from certain Palestinian areas.
This led to cheers in both Israel and Gaza, though liberal politicians were hesitant to extol Trump’s involvement.
“If the deal succeeds in freeing hostages, disarming Hamas, and ending the conflict, then certainly the president deserves some credit,” commented rep. Richie Torres (D-Bronx), although he snuck in the “broken clock” analogy.
State Rep. Jeffrey Dinowitz expressed excitement about the deal, but he was cautious in allocating too much praise to Trump, saying he had mainly done bad things but still deserved some recognition for this advancement.
Other prominent Democrats, including the top leaders in Congress, chose not to comment on Trump’s role in the negotiations.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries skirted a question about whether Trump should be acknowledged, calling the looming ceasefire “a very positive step.”
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Governor Kathy Hochul, and mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo expressed approval of the agreement but didn’t mention Trump directly.
In stark contrast, New York Republicans lauded the former president. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) called him “a true negotiator,” emphasizing his global peace efforts.
Rep. Michael Lawler (R-Rockland/Westchester) thanked Trump for “leading this effort and working tirelessly to establish peace and bring the hostages home.”
Interestingly, Kalman Yeager, a Democratic state representative from Brooklyn, seemed aligned with the Republicans in acknowledging Trump’s role, stating he deserves “a lot” of credit for the agreement.
He reflected that the resilience of the Israeli people, Netanyahu’s focus, and the support from the U.S. president combined were formidable enough to compel Hamas to surrender and facilitate the return of hostages.
