Additional Pro-Hamas Content Liked by Mamdani’s Wife Revealed in New Report

By: Jason Ostedder

New revelations regarding the social media activity of Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, have ignited renewed controversy after reports surfaced indicating that she engaged with numerous posts on Instagram criticizing Israel and questioning widely reported accounts of atrocities during the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack. The disclosures, first reported by The Free Press and highlighted by VIN News in a report on Saturday, have intensified political scrutiny of the mayor’s household at a moment when tensions surrounding Middle Eastern politics and antisemitism remain highly charged in public discourse.

According to the information provided in the VIN News report, Duwaji reportedly “liked” more than 70 posts on Instagram that were sharply critical of Israel and its military response following the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel. Among the content that drew particular attention was a post referring to allegations of sexual violence during the Oct. 7 attacks as a “mass rape hoax,” a phrase that has been widely condemned by critics as an attempt to dismiss or minimize documented reports of atrocities committed during the assault.

The Oct. 7 attacks, carried out by Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists who infiltrated Israeli communities near the Gaza border, resulted in the brutal murders of approximately 1,200 people and the kidnapping of 251 hostages. Numerous investigations by Israeli authorities, international organizations, and journalists documented allegations of sexual violence committed during the attack, making any suggestion that such accounts were fabricated especially controversial. As VIN News noted in its coverage of the emerging story, the discovery that Duwaji had interacted with content casting doubt on those allegations has provoked sharp criticism from some observers.

Additional posts reportedly liked by Duwaji included messages that characterized the Oct. 7 assault as a form of “collective liberation,” as well as content accusing Israel of engaging in a “vile land grab.” According to the report referenced by VIN News, other posts endorsed calls for the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and included harsh criticism of U.S. leadership during the early months of the conflict.

One of the posts highlighted in the report reportedly described then-President Joe Biden as “Butcher Biden,” a phrase that circulated widely among anti-Israel activists in the aftermath of the war in Gaza. Critics say such rhetoric contributes to an atmosphere of extreme polarization surrounding discussions of the Middle East conflict.

The resurfacing of Duwaji’s social media activity comes after earlier scrutiny regarding her online engagement with posts related to Israel and Hamas. According to VIN News, the latest report suggests that the scale of her interaction with such content was significantly broader than previously understood, with dozens of posts reflecting strong criticism of Israeli policies and leadership.

Mayor Mamdani has previously addressed questions regarding his wife’s online activity, emphasizing that she is a private citizen who holds no official position within his administration. In earlier statements, he sought to distinguish his own views from those expressed on social media by his spouse.

“She is a private person and does not play any formal role in city government,” Mamdani said in remarks referenced by VIN News. The mayor has also repeatedly condemned Hamas, describing the organization as a terrorist group and characterizing the Oct. 7 attack as a “horrific war crime.”

Those statements have been cited by the mayor’s supporters as evidence that his political stance remains clearly separate from the personal opinions expressed by members of his family. Nonetheless, critics argue that the continued emergence of controversial social media interactions has raised questions about the broader political environment surrounding the mayor.

Political analysts note that the issue touches on a broader debate about the boundaries between public and private expression in the digital age. While elected officials are often held accountable for their own public statements, the views of spouses and family members—particularly when expressed through social media platforms—can quickly become part of the political conversation.

According to the VIN News report, the controversy also reflects the increasingly intense scrutiny applied to public figures and their families when discussions of Israel and antisemitism arise. In recent years, debates surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have frequently spilled into American political life, with social media serving as a central battleground for competing narratives.

The renewed attention to Duwaji’s online activity has already prompted reactions from commentators across the political spectrum. Some critics have argued that engagement with posts denying sexual violence during the Oct. 7 attacks represents a deeply troubling form of historical revisionism.

For now, the mayor’s office has not issued additional comment beyond reiterating that Mamdani has consistently condemned Hamas and the violence of Oct. 7. As the VIN News report observed, the controversy nevertheless illustrates how digital footprints—often created years earlier or in informal contexts—can rapidly become subjects of intense public scrutiny.

Whether the latest revelations will have lasting political consequences remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that in an era defined by instantaneous communication and viral information, the boundaries between personal expression and public accountability continue to evolve.