New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s wife liked Instagram posts dismissing the October 7 Hamas rapes as a hoax, raising alarms over antisemitism in a city with the largest Jewish population outside Israel.
Story Highlights
- Rama Duwaji liked posts celebrating the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and calling verified sexual violence a “mass rape hoax” after a New York Times exposé.
- Mamdani defends his wife as a “private person” despite her visible social media activity and public profiles, amid surging antisemitic incidents in NYC.
- NYC’s 2.18 million Jews face record hate crimes, spotlighting Mamdani’s leadership as a Democratic Socialist who revoked pro-Israel orders.
- Reports from Jewish Insider and The Free Press confirm likes remain public, fueling scrutiny from media and Democratic insiders.
Controversial Instagram Likes Surface
Rama Duwaji, wife of NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, liked Instagram posts on October 7, 2023, that celebrated Hamas’s breach of Israeli barriers as “resisting apartheid.” She endorsed content from The Slow Factory and The People’s Forum promoting anti-Israel protests. These actions occurred during the attack that killed 1,200 mostly civilians, with documented sexual violence. Duwaji’s likes persisted into February 2024, targeting a New York Times investigation as a fabricated “hoax.”
Mamdani’s Defense Amid Backlash
Mayor Mamdani addressed the controversy at a Friday news conference, calling Duwaji “the love of my life” and a private citizen with no formal role in his campaign or City Hall. He reiterated his condemnation of Hamas as terrorists and October 7 as a horrific war crime. City Hall emphasized Mamdani answers for his own policies. Democratic sources criticized the response as inadequate given the severity.
NYC’s Jewish Community Under Threat
New York City hosts 2.18 million Jews, the largest population outside Israel, amid record-high antisemitic incidents tracked by the ADL. Tensions rise during Ramadan, with recent protests near Gracie Mansion leading to six arrests and suspicious devices. Mamdani’s history includes staff posting anti-Israel content during his 2024 campaign and revoking pro-Israel executive orders, drawing accusations of fueling antisemitism. This incident erodes trust in his ability to protect all 8.5 million residents, especially as likes like those celebrating “from the river to the sea” remain visible.
The mayor’s claim of his wife’s privacy contrasts with her glossy magazine profiles and public event appearances, such as the January 1, 2026, inauguration. Critics argue such views signal deeper issues in an administration prioritizing pro-Palestinian activism over combating hate crimes. Jewish voters, a key constituency, demand stronger leadership against threats to their safety and conservative values of tolerance and security.
WATCH: NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani says his wife, Rama Duwaji, isn’t a public figure after reports she liked a post calling the sexual violence investigation tied to Hamas’ Oct. 7 terrorist attack a “mass rape” hoax. pic.twitter.com/Qf6EIF4ns0
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 9, 2026
Growing Scrutiny and Implications
Investigative reports from Jewish Insider and The Free Press by Olivia Reingold broke the stories, with coverage from Fox News, Times of Israel, and News 12. Likes, including an October 7 bulldozer post, stayed public as of Saturday. Short-term, this damages Mamdani’s credibility amid NYC’s antisemitism surge. Long-term, it polarizes Jewish voters, strains Democratic unity, and heightens Israel-Palestine debates in local governance. Media scrutiny on politicians’ families underscores public interest over privacy claims in polarized times.
Sources:
Mamdani’s wife liked post calling Oct. 7 rapes a hoax — report (Times of Israel)
Mayor Mamdani’s wife allegedly liked post calling Oct. 7 probe a ‘hoax’ (Fox News)
Mamdani’s wife liked posts that referred to mass rape hoax during Oct. 7 attack in Israel (News 12)
