Mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo Sunday called on Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani to explicitly condemn the phrase “Globalize the Intifada” ahead of planned protests marking the second anniversary of the October 7th Hamas teroror attack against Israel that killed more than 1,000 and reignited the long-simmering conflict.
After initially declining to condemn the phrase—a controversial rallying cry that is seen by many as sanctioning or even encouraging violence against Jews— Mamdani in July said he would discourage its use following a conversation with a Jewish woman, facilitated by the group Partnership for New York.
Mamdani has acknowledged the phrase “meant something different to the Jewish community” and discouraged its usage. But he also has come under fire for not explictly condeming its use and those who do use the phrase — which Cuomo has characterized as disingenuous.
”Zohran Mamdani continues to play word games instead of showing moral clarity,” Cuomo said in a statement provided by his campaign. “Today I again call on him – directly and unequivocally – to denounce this phrase and to reject any movement that glorifies violence or targets Jewish people.”
Mamdani’s camp did not immediately reply.
LEONARDO MUNOZ/AFP via Getty Images
A protester holds a sign during a demonstration outside the hotel of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Manhattan on September 25. (Photo by LEONARDO MUNOZ/AFP via Getty Images)
The press release from Cuomo’s campaign linked to the Pro-Palestine group “Behind Enemy Lines,” which is planning a “No Business as Usual” protest for Oct. 7, calling on people to “Escalate for Gaza.”
“Behind Enemy Lines is calling on everyone to escalate for Gaza and shut down business as usual,” reads a statement on the group’s website, which encourages students to walk out of class, small businesses to shut down for the day and people to engage in organized protests.
Cuomo also urged the NYPD to “increase security around synagogues, Jewish schools, community centers, and other locations identified as ‘targets’ by these organizers,” in the Sunday press release.
The NYPD did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Originally Published: October 5, 2025 at 7:27 PM EDT
