Cuomo calls on Mamdani to condemn the phrase 'Globalize the Intifada' ahead of Oct. 7

Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News on Oct 5, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

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 udner 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.

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.