Overview
- New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called Palestinian author Susan Abulhawa’s online rhetoric “patently unacceptable” and “reprehensible” after scrutiny of his wife’s illustration credit tied to Abulhawa’s project.
- First lady Rama Duwaji, a freelance illustrator, was reported to have provided art for a short story included in a collection Abulhawa compiled; Mamdani says Duwaji was hired via an intermediary and never met or engaged with Abulhawa.
- Coverage also resurfaced reports that Duwaji previously ‘liked’ posts that praised the Oct. 7 attacks and a February 2024 Instagram post alleging The New York Times’ sexual‑violence investigation was fabricated.
- Abulhawa, whose posts have described the Oct. 7 attacks as “a spectacular moment” and used dehumanizing language about Israelis and Jews, released a video rejecting accusations of antisemitism and framing her comments as anti‑Zionist critique.
- Mamdani scheduled a Monday meeting of roughly 15–20 minutes with selected Orthodox Jewish leaders, which some figures labeled a “photo‑op,” as major groups including the ADL said they were not invited and the ADL also criticized his hosting of activist Mahmoud Khalil at Gracie Mansion.