Israeli minister asks Jews to immigrate to Israel after Zohran Mamdani's win

Israel’s Minister of Diaspora and Combating Antisemitism, Amichai Chikli, on Wednesday strongly criticised New York City’s mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, calling him a “Hamas supporter” and suggesting that members of the city’s Jewish community consider moving to Israel.

Taking social media site X, Chikli said that, “The city that once was a symbol of global freedom has given its keys to a Hamas supporter.”

34-year-old Mamdani will be New York’s first Muslim mayor when he assumes office in January. Throughout his campaign, he emphasised policies aimed at making the city more affordable and has actively condemned both antisemitism and the Islamophobia he has faced personally.

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His comments on Israel, including referring to it as an “apartheid regime” and describing the war in Gaza as a “genocide,” have drawn criticism from some Jewish community members.

Chikli added a warning about the city’s future: “The city is walking, eyes open, into the abyss into which London has already plunged.” He stressed that New York’s Jewish population, in particular, could face significant challenges under the new administration.