Mamdani Flip-Flops on Hamas Disarmament Amid Ceasefire Debate

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani flip-flopped in spectacular fashion Thursday night during a televised debate, finally stating that Hamas should “lay down their arms” just one day after refusing to say so in a national Fox News interview.

Pressed on the issue by a debate moderator, Mamdani tried to clean up the political mess he created 24 hours earlier, when he ducked a direct question from anchor Martha MacCallum about whether he supported Hamas disarming and relinquishing control of Gaza under President Trump’s brokered ceasefire.

“Of course, I believe that they should lay down their arms,” Mamdani said Thursday a statement his own supporters labeled on social media as a “new answer.”

Mamdani didn’t evolve. He got exposed.

• On Wednesday, when pressed by Fox News, Mamdani avoided condemning Hamas or supporting their disarmament, saying only that he didn’t have “opinions about the future of Hamas and Israel.”

• On Thursday, under national scrutiny, he changed his tune in front of the cameras a 180-degree pivot that reeks of political calculation.

Even as he tried to backpedal, Mamdani doubled down on the far-left talking points that have made him one of the most radical candidates in the race. He described the war as a “genocide,” smeared former Gov. Andrew Cuomo for “signing up to be Benjamin Netanyahu’s legal defense team,” and again invoked international law as a shield for his non-answers.

This isn’t the first time Mamdani has drawn fire for his extremist anti-Israel rhetoric. He has refused to clearly condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” a slogan used by violent anti-Israel activists. Instead, he’s consistently wrapped his positions in vague calls for "justice" and "safety" empty words that mask his deep alignment with radical anti-Western elements.

Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa didn’t let Mamdani off the hook.

“The president of the United States should have been applauded by you, Zohran Mamdani,” Sliwa said, referring to Trump’s successful ceasefire and hostage release deal. “And you, Andrew Cuomo.”

In the same breath that Mamdani begrudgingly said he hoped Trump’s ceasefire would be “durable,” he continued to minimize the President’s achievement, refusing once again to give full credit.

This is who Mamdani is: A socialist activist who is more comfortable siding with Hamas sympathizers than giving the U.S. President credit for saving lives.

It took public shaming for him to say the words “Hamas should lay down their arms.” That’s not leadership that’s cowardice.

With less than three weeks to go until Election Day, voters now have a crystal-clear look at Mamdani’s character: a man who bends to the moment, not one who stands on principle.

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