Keep Factually independent
Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.
Has Zohran Mamdani publicly praised Hamas in interviews or social media?
Executive Summary
Zohran Mamdani has not been shown to have explicitly praised Hamas in interviews or on social media in the material provided; the clearest public evidence critics cite is a 2017 rap lyric praising figures known as the “Holy Land Five,” convicted of funneling money to Hamas, and his past refusal in at least one interview to clearly state that Hamas should disarm. The record therefore contains criticized associations and ambiguous statements, but not a clear, contemporary public endorsement of Hamas in interviews or social posts [1] [2] [3].
1. What critics claim and why it matters: a controversy framed by a rap lyric and equivocal answers
Critics accuse Mamdani of being sympathetic to Hamas on two fronts: a line in a 2017 rap track that praises the “Holy Land Five,” and his conduct in later interviews where he declined to categorically say Hamas should disarm. The rap lyric has been publicized by watchdogs and news outlets as evidence of past praise for individuals convicted of funneling funds to Hamas, and that association has been seized on by political opponents as proof of sympathy for the organization [1]. Separately, his interview responses after the October 2023 attacks—specifically moments where he did not explicitly condemn or demand disarmament—have been framed by critics as evasive and indicative of a softer stance toward Hamas [2]. Both elements fuel political narratives about his stance on Palestinian militancy versus advocacy for Palestinian rights, making the distinction between praising individuals tied to Hamas and endorsing Hamas itself central to the debate [3].
2. The strongest piece of evidence: the 2017 rap track and the Holy Land Five connection
The most concrete allegation is the 2017 rap song in which Mamdani reportedly expresses “love” for the Holy Land Five, a group later convicted of funneling millions to Hamas; that track was publicized by Canary Mission and covered in media reporting on his mayoral bid [1]. This is a past artistic expression that critics interpret as praise for individuals linked to Hamas funding, and opponents use it to argue a history of problematic associations. The source narrative emphasizes historical context—the song predates his political career and the Holy Land Five convictions—and highlights how past speech can be recontextualized in political contests. The factual anchor here is the lyric itself and its content; there is no direct evidence in these materials that the lyric intended to endorse Hamas’s political or military aims, only that it praised individuals later convicted of financial ties to Hamas [4] [5].
3. What interviews and statements actually show: ambiguity, not explicit endorsement
Reporting and fact-checking of Mamdani’s interviews show a pattern of critical, pro‑Palestinian advocacy combined with reluctance to deliver categorical condemnations of Hamas in certain moments. Several outlets note he has criticized Israeli policy, supported Palestinian rights, and called for ceasefires, while also pointing out that he has not publicly issued an outright endorsement of Hamas in his interviews or social media [3] [6]. Specifically, the record cited includes at least one interview where he declined to say whether Hamas should disarm, which critics use to allege softness toward Hamas, but fact-checkers and reporting emphasize that declining to answer is not the same as praising or endorsing the group [2]. Thus, the evidence presented shows ambiguous or cautious public statements rather than affirmative praise for Hamas as an organization.
4. Political framing, agendas, and how evidence is being used
Responses to these materials fall along partisan and advocacy lines: opponents and some media sources present the rap lyric and equivocal interviews as proof of dangerous sympathy, seeking to disqualify him politically, while sympathetic outlets and some fact-checkers emphasize the absence of an explicit, contemporary endorsement of Hamas and stress his calls for ceasefire and international law [4] [7] [6]. Watchdog groups and critics emphasize the criminal convictions of the Holy Land Five to draw a straight line from the lyric to support for Hamas, whereas other analyses highlight context, timing, and the difference between praising people and praising an organization’s violent acts. This illustrates how the same factual elements—an old lyric and an evasive interview moment—are leveraged to different political ends [1] [3].
5. Bottom line: what the record supports and what remains unanswered
The documented record in the provided materials supports two clear points: Mamdani once recorded a lyric praising individuals later convicted of funneling funds to Hamas, and he has at times avoided categorical condemnations of Hamas in interviews. The materials do not contain a direct, contemporaneous quote or social-media post in which Mamdani explicitly praises Hamas as an organization or endorses its violent tactics. That leaves a factual conclusion of association and ambiguity rather than explicit public praise; the political implications depend on whether observers treat past artistic expressions and equivocal interview language as de facto endorsement [1] [2] [3]. Remaining questions include his full social-media history and any private statements not included here—areas where further primary-source documentation would be needed to change this assessment [5] [6].