'Globalize the intifada' phrase stirs tensions on NYC campaign trail as Middle East conflict rages

Middle East tensions seeped onto the New York City run way this week arsenic President Donald Trump considers striking Iran. 

When asked by The Bulwark podcast host, Tim Miller, if the phrases "Globalize the intifada" and "From the stream to the sea" marque him uncomfortable, mayoral campaigner Zohran Mamdani explained helium doesn't enactment banning language, comparing that enactment benignant to Trump. 

"The precise connection has been utilized by the Holocaust Museum erstwhile translating the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising into Arabic, which is simply a connection that means ‘struggle.’"

The clip has since gone viral, arsenic Jewish advocacy groups and influencers slammed Mamdani for what they accidental is simply a refusal to condemn the operation "Globalize the intifada," a rallying outcry that has been utilized by pro-Palestinian protesters resisting the warfare successful Gaza. 

SANDERS ENDORSES SOCIALIST MAMDANI IN MOVE TO BLOCK CUOMO IN NYC MAYORAL RACE

Zohran Mamdani, New York State Assemblyman and mayoral campaigner for New York City, speaks astatine a rally successful New York City connected May 10, 2025.  (REUTERS/Bing Guan)

"Exploiting the Museum and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising to sanitize ‘globalize the intifada’ is outrageous and particularly violative to survivors. Since 1987, Jews person been attacked and murdered nether its banner. All leaders indispensable condemn its usage and the maltreatment of history," the United States Holocaust Museum fired backmost astatine Mamdani successful a societal media post. 

NYC MAYORAL CANDIDATE ZOHRAN MAMDANI DEFENDS BDS SUPPORT AMID ISRAEL CONTROVERSY

According to the American Jewish Committee, the operation "calls for radical from astir the globe to enactment successful rising up against Israel."

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, wide considered the frontrunner successful New York City's mayoral race, called connected each candidates to "denounce" Mamdani's comments for claiming THE connection is "subject to interpretation."

"That is not lone wrong, it is dangerous. At a clip erstwhile we are seeing antisemitism connected the emergence and successful information witnessing erstwhile again unit against Jews resulting successful their deaths successful Washington D.C. oregon their burning successful Denver, we cognize each excessively good that words matter. They substance hate. They substance murder. As the US Holocaust Museum truthful aptly said, each leaders oregon those moving for bureau indispensable condemn the usage of this conflict cry. There are nary 2 sides here," Cuomo said. 

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo testifies earlier the Select Subcommittee connected the Coronavirus Pandemic successful the Rayburn House Office Building connected Sept. 10, 2024, successful Washington. (Kent Nishimura)

A young Jewish mates who worked astatine the Israeli Embassy were killed portion leaving the Capital Jewish Museum successful Washington past month. The fishy shouted, "Free Palestine!" portion successful constabulary custody. Colorado constabulary besides responded to a panic onslaught astatine a pro-Israel lawsuit that near aggregate radical injured successful Denver past month. 

Mamdani, who is vying to beryllium New York City’s archetypal Muslim mayor, has been criticized by his competitors, including Cuomo, for his views connected Middle East politics, which reached a boiling constituent this week amid ongoing strikes betwixt Israel and Iran. 

During the mayoral debate, Mamdani said, "Israel has a close to exist," helium but refused to hold that Israel has the close to beryllium arsenic a "Jewish state" but alternatively "as a authorities with adjacent rights."

Protesters question Palestinian flags successful Washington Square Park successful New York City connected Friday, May 3, 2024. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital)

New York Democrat Rep. Tom Suozzi, who has endorsed Cuomo, slammed Mamdani's comments, writing, "In Israel, the archetypal and 2nd intifadas, were violent attacks to termination Jews implicit a sustained period. ‘Globalize the intifada’ is not ‘subject to interpretation,’ it is wrong, unsafe and deadly. This is disqualifying and indispensable beryllium stopped."

Another New York Democrat, Rep. Ritchie Torres, piled connected the criticism, saying, "Even if we stipulate—for the involvement of argument—that ‘Globalize the Intifada’ is not a telephone to unit (even though it intelligibly is), what matters is not the speaker’s intent but however the operation is received by galore successful the Jewish community."

An affectional Mamdani addressed accusations that his comments were rooted successful antisemitism during a property league connected Wednesday. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"I get comments that accidental the lone bully Muslim is simply a dormant Muslim. I get threats connected my life, connected the radical that I love," Mamdani said, earlier adding, "Antisemitism is specified a existent contented successful this city, and it has been hard to spot it weaponized by candidates who bash not look to person immoderate sincere involvement successful tackling it, but alternatively successful utilizing it arsenic a pretext to marque governmental points."

Mamdani's run did not instantly respond to Fox News Digital's petition for further comment.