Republican gubernatorial nominee Bruce Blakeman is demanding that Gov. Kathy Hochul launch a state probe of New York City’s first lady, Rama Duwaji, over her alleged “antisemitic rhetoric.”
He also called for a “public apology” from Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s wife for promoting hate.
“The Mamdani family has sent a chilling message to Jewish New Yorkers: the savage violence of Oct. 7th — rapes, violence and the brutal murder of babies—was merely a punchline for online laughs and likes,” Blakeman, the current Nassau County executive, said in a statement.
Blakeman was referring to published reports revealing that Duwaji once liked a celebratory Instagram post on the day of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack that shared images from the murderous assault on Israel.
She also liked a social media post claiming Hamas’ rapes of Israelis during the terror rampage were a “mass hoax.””
“Their words don’t just deny atrocities; they empower extremists and help create a climate where hatred leads to real-world violence, like the explosive devices being investigated near Gracie Mansion,” Blakeman, a pro-Israel Jew, said.
“I’m calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to direct the state hate and bias prevention unit to immediately investigate and condemn Rama Duwaji for her antisemitic rhetoric.”
In addition, Blakeman demanded a “public apology” from Duwaji and asked that she complete antisemitism education training through the New York City Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes.
“Never again is now,” Blakeman said.
The furor over Ruwaji’s social media support of the Hamas-led Palestinian resistance against Israel occurred before two ISIS-inspired Pennsylvania men were arrested on federal charges after they allegedly hurled two homemade bombs outside the mayor’s official residence on the Upper East Side, where an anti-Islam protest was taking place Saturday.
Mamdani on Friday claimed his wife “has held no formal position on my campaign or in my City Hall” and that she shouldn’t face scrutiny over her social media activity.
Mamdani himself is a staunch critic of Israel. He supports the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaign against the Jewish state.
He’s also called Israel an apartheid state that has committed “genocide” in Gaza, and during last year’s mayoral campaign, he vowed to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes.
On Monday, Mamdani and Duwaji hosted anti-Israel activist and accused Hamas sympathizer Mahmoud Khalil at Gracie Mansion for Ramadan. Khalil is fighting deportation proceedings.
A rep for President Trump and a slew of pro-Israel supporters condemned the invitation.
Hochul and City Hall offered no immediate comment.
