Mamdani hijacks St Patrick’s Day breakfast to rant about ‘genocide’ in Gaza

“I say this as over the past few years, as we’ve witnessed a genocide unfold before our eyes, there has been deafening silence from so many,” Mamdani said during the event.

He also compared the situation in Gaza to Irish history, saying, “Who can better understand those who weep than those who have been made to weep for so long? The story of the Irish, both in Ireland and in New York City, is at one time a story of oppression, of subjugation, and of discrimination.”

Mamdani went on to praise Robinson for her stance on Palestinian issues, adding, “For those who have long cared about universal human rights and the extension of them to Palestinians, silence, however, is nothing new, for Palestinians are so often left to weep alone. Yet, former President Robinson has never been silent.”

The breakfast drew about 50 attendees and was meant to launch St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Robinson, in her own remarks, listed conflicts across multiple regions. “We know others are living under the shadow of war and suffering in Iran, in Lebanon, in Palestine, in Ukraine, in Sudan, and Democratic Republic of Congo, and in too many other places,” she said.

She added that Ireland’s past shapes how its people view current crises: “For many Irish people, these realities resonate deeply, as the mayor has said, our own history holds memories of famine, exile, and conflict.”

The mayor’s comments came just hours before he was set to attend a Catholic mass and march in the city’s St. Patrick’s Day parade alongside other officials.

A day earlier, Mamdani struggled to answer a basic question about Irish politics, saying, “I gotta be honest, I haven’t thought enough on that question,” when asked about Irish unification.