NYC Mayoral Candidate Mamdani Sparks Outrage by Comparing Intifada to Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

US Holocaust Memorial Museum: Comparison is ‘outrageous’ and offensive to survivors

New York, 2025 — The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum has strongly condemned a comparison made by New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani between the term “Globalise the Intifada” and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising during the Second World War.

The controversy emerged after Mamdani, a prominent anti-Israel activist and Democratic Socialist, referenced Holocaust Museum materials to defend his refusal to denounce the slogan “Globalise the Intifada” during an interview on the podcast The Bulwark on Tuesday.

Mamdani, currently polling second in the Democratic primary, argued that the term Intifada — which he acknowledged has been linked to Palestinian uprisings involving terrorist violence — has also been used in translation by the Holocaust Museum to describe Jewish resistance. “The very word [Intifada] has been used by the Holocaust Museum when translating the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising into Arabic because it’s a word that means struggle,” Mamdani claimed.

The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, a 1943 revolt by Jewish residents against Nazi deportation and extermination, is widely regarded as a symbol of desperate resistance. The term Intifada, however, is most commonly associated with the Second Intifada (early 2000s), which saw suicide bombings and hundreds of Israeli civilian deaths.

Museum Condemnation

Without naming Mamdani, the US Holocaust Memorial Museum issued a sharply worded statement on Wednesday:

“Exploiting the museum and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising to sanitise ‘Globalise the Intifada’ is outrageous and especially offensive to survivors. Since 1987, Jews have been attacked and murdered under its banner. All leaders must condemn its use and the abuse of history.”

Although the museum did not confirm whether its Arabic translations use intifada for uprising, experts stress that even if the word was used linguistically, the historical contexts of the Warsaw Ghetto and the Palestinian Intifadas are profoundly different.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) classifies comparisons between Israeli actions and the Nazis — known as Holocaust inversion — as a form of antisemitism. New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently mandated that city agencies adopt the IHRA working definition of antisemitism.

Political and Community Reactions

Jewish leaders across the United States expressed alarm at Mamdani’s comments. Among those criticising him were:

• Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League
• Ted Deutch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee
• Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, of New York’s Stephen Wise Free Synagogue

Mamdani’s statement has reignited broader concerns over rising anti-Zionist rhetoric, which many believe has contributed to an increase in antisemitic incidents. In recent months, Jewish communities in Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Colorado, and Massachusetts have suffered violent attacks linked to anti-Israel extremism.

New York City, home to the world’s largest Jewish population outside Israel, sees more hate crimes against Jews than any other group combined.

While Mamdani has acknowledged the presence of antisemitism in the city and released a plan to combat it, his critics point to his history of inflammatory remarks and associations. In 2024, fellow left-wing council member Shahana Hanif apologised for sharing a social media post bearing the phrase “Globalise the Intifada.” Hanif and Mamdani have publicly endorsed one another.

Who is Zohran Mamdani?

Aged 33, Mamdani is of Indian-Ugandan heritage and currently serves as a state assemblymember representing part of Queens. He identifies as an anti-Zionist and says that pro-Palestinian activism is central to his political identity.

Throughout his campaign, Mamdani has faced scrutiny for allegedly avoiding support for New York State resolutions commemorating the Holocaust — a claim he denies.

He is affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a party that has made anti-Israel advocacy a core position. The DSA drew criticism for holding a celebratory rally in Times Square just a day after the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led massacres in Israel.

Election Outlook

Mamdani is currently trailing former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has strongly aligned himself with Jewish voters. Cuomo has pledged to make fighting antisemitism a central priority and has voiced unequivocal support for Israel throughout his campaign.

Key Dates:

As early voting continues, the debate over antisemitism and Israel is proving to be a central issue in the race for mayor of America’s most Jewish city.