Israel's Consul General in New York, Ofir Akunis, criticized New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday for accusing Israel of killing a journalist in Gaza. Israel says the al-Jazeera videographer Ahmed Wishah was a Hamas operative, while Mamdani expressed sorrow over his death and described him as a journalist. Akunis accused Mamdani of spreading one-sided claims against Israel.
Israel's Consul General in New York, Ofir Akunis, on Tuesday — a day after the Zionist publication The Zioneer reported Mamdani had previously attacked Israel over the same killing — accused New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani of "spreading one-sided claims" against Israel after Mamdani expressed sorrow over the death of Ahmed Wishah and described the al-Jazeera videographer as a journalist killed by Israel. The IDF has identified Wishah as a Hamas sniper operative who used his media credentials as cover, a designation Israel has publicly stated. Akunis's comments, circulated Tuesday evening, represent a public rebuke from an Israeli diplomatic official directly targeting a U.S. local political candidate amid the ongoing campaign in New York City. The exchange highlights the sustained political and public-diplomacy battle around the Wishah case. As The Zioneer reported earlier Tuesday, Mamdani had already criticized Israel on the issue before Akunis's response. The candidate's campaign has not yet issued a response to the consul general's remarks.
2 developments
- DevelopingNY Assemblymember Mamdani attacks Israel over killing of al-Jazeera journalist
- DevelopingIsrael's NYC consul general discusses Montreal shooting with Canadian counterpart
- DevelopingDelegation of Consuls General from New York Continues Visit to Israel Amid War
- DevelopingNYC mayoral candidate Mamdani campaigns with Hamas-apologist influencer
Source and signal
- Internal intake