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How NYC mayoral candidates reacted to the release of the Israeli hostages, from Gematria to Gaza
This piece first ran as part of The Countdown, our daily newsletter rounding up all the developments in the New York City mayor’s race. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. There are 21 days to the election.
From Gematria to Gaza
- Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa and Zohran Mamdani reacted Monday to the release of the last 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
- Cuomo called it a “moral moment” and invoked the Holocaust commemoration slogan “never again” to condemn the Hamas attacks. He also quoted writer and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel as saying, “The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.”
- Sliwa introduced Jewish math into his statement. “The 20 surviving hostages are reunited by families and loved ones after 738 agonizing days in captivity. 7+3+8 = 18, which means Chai, which means ‘life’ in Judaism,” he said.
- Mamdani said the “scenes of Israelis and Palestinians are profoundly moving,” but focused much of his statement on holding the Israeli and U.S. governments accountable for the death and destruction in Gaza. He also repeated his stance that American tax dollars “funded a genocide” in Gaza and that the global community must work toward a future “without occupation and apartheid.”
- Mamdani posted his statement at 4:20 p.m. New York time, over 12 hours after the hostage release, leaving time for Cuomo to criticize him.
- “It shouldn’t go unnoticed that @ZohrankMamdani – who still refuses to condemn the phrase ‘globalize the intifada’ (widely understood to mean death to Jews) – has yet to comment on the release of the hostages. His silence speaks volumes,” Cuomo said on X.
- In a race where Cuomo and Mamdani have sparred over their ability to stand up to President Donald Trump, neither mentioned his name or role in brokering the ceasefire. Sliwa said he was “proud of President Trump and all involved.”
Mamdani’s charm offensive
- Mamdani is continuing his charm offensive with New York’s business elite, reported The New York Times. He has built relationships with some of his harshest skeptics, and many say they like him — even if they disagree with his stances and plan to vote for Cuomo.
- Mamdani has strongly pivoted his views on policing, one of the top concerns among critics who recall his “defund the police” calls in 2020. In addition to a private apology tour with police officers, he has reiterated his interest in keeping Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch in her role, according to The New York Times Magazine.
- But Mamdani isn’t budging on his Israel views, he told the magazine. He reaffirmed his commitment to ordering the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he is elected mayor, though the pledge is unpopular even among some of his allies.
A Jewish comic stumps for Mamdani
- Jewish comedian Gianmarco Soresi, who recently told us about his Jewish background, which figures prominently in his act, was among the speakers at Mamdani’s rally in Washington Heights on Monday night, according to Politico.
- At the rally, which drew some 3,000 supporters, Mamdani said he saw “power of a movement that won the battle over the soul of the Democratic Party.”
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“We all know Cuomo will kiss the ring” of Trump, Soresi joked. “He kisses everything.”
- Like Mamdani, Soresi is an outspoken critic of Israel and its actions in Gaza.
Coming up over the next three weeks
- Thursday is the first general election debate among Cuomo, Mamdani and Sliwa. The event will be held at 7 p.m. in Rockefeller Center, and you can watch live on WNBC-TV or across WNBC’s and WNJU-TV’s digital and streaming platforms.
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Saturday, Oct. 25 is the last day to register to vote in person or by mail for the general election.
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Saturday, Oct. 25 through Sunday, Nov. 2 are the dates for early voting.
- Tuesday, Nov. 4 is Election Day.
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The post How NYC mayoral candidates reacted to the release of the Israeli hostages, from Gematria to Gaza appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
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English Premier League’s Arsenal Hosts Over 100 Soccer Professionals to Discuss Tackling Antisemitism
Emirates Stadium, Arsenal’s home stadium. Photo: Nazmi Amin-Tai via Wikimedia Commons
The English Premier League powerhouse Arsenal hosted more than 100 professionals from across English soccer last week for a symposium on how to combat antisemitism in sports.
The event on Dec. 4 was attended by senior figures from soccer clubs, leagues, governing bodies, associations, and fan groups. They discussed antisemitism in British sports; the experiences of Jewish athletes, staff, and supporters; and how to develop new strategies for creating safer and more inclusive environments for the Jewish community.
As a result of the symposium, an industry toolkit was developed for clubs and governing bodies that will serve as a resource for how to include antisemitism awareness in equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives, improve communication and reporting strategies, and guarantee that Jewish fans and staff feel “safe, represented, and included.” Each delegate vowed to implement at least one action in their organization.
The symposium was coordinated in partnership with Maccabi GB and the British government’s independent adviser on antisemitism, John Mann. Maccabi GB is Britain’s leading charity dedicated to Anglo-Jewish sports, health, and wellbeing, according to its website. It aims to create inclusive sporting, community, and educational environments for the Jewish community.
“Bringing people together to learn, share experiences, and commit to practical action is how we create a better future for Jewish players, staff, and supporters,” Maccabi GB chief executive Ashley Lerner said at the symposium. “In partnership with Lord Mann’s office, we are determined to ensure that the conversations held today lead to meaningful change across the sporting world.”
“Sport has a unique ability to bring people together — but it can also expose the prejudices that exist in wider society,” said Mann. “That is why this partnership with Maccabi GB is so important. We are equipping clubs, leagues, and governing bodies with the knowledge and confidence they need to identify antisemitism early and tackle it decisively. The willingness of football leaders to engage so openly today is not just encouraging — it is essential. We now have the opportunity to ensure that the lessons of the past translate into meaningful, measurable change for the future.”
The symposium took place on the 90th anniversary of the England–Germany match at White Hart Lane in London in 1935, when the visiting German team performed the Nazi salute on the pitch. Stephanie Peacock, the British minister for sport, tourism, civil society, and youth, spoke at the event about the British government’s commitment to working with those in sports and the Jewish community to address antisemitism.
“Sport should always be a place of belonging, pride, and unity,” Peacock said. “Antisemitism has no place in football or in British society, and I welcome the leadership shown today by Maccabi GB and Lord Mann. The government is committed to supporting this work, ensuring that clubs and governing bodies have the capability, confidence, and frameworks to prevent discrimination and respond effectively when it occurs. Tackling antisemitism strengthens not only Jewish participation in sport, but the integrity and inclusivity of the game as a whole.”
Last week’s symposium was held as part of a larger project called Tackling Antisemitism in Sport, which was established in September 2023 as a partnership between Maccabi GB and Mann’s office. More than 4,000 soccer professionals have participated in the program’s workshops, including all 20 Premier League clubs.
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Israel to Reopen Jordan Border Crossing for Passage of Aid, Goods After Terror Attack
Israeli police officers stand next to their cars at the scene of a fatal shooting at the Allenby Crossing between the West Bank and Jordan, Sept. 18, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Oren Ben Hakoon
Israel is set to reopen the Allenby Crossing with Jordan to the passage of goods and aid on Wednesday, an Israeli security official said on Tuesday.
The border crossing has been closed to aid and goods since September, when a driver bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza opened fire and killed two Israeli military personnel before being killed by security forces.
The security official said the crossing would have tightened screening for Jordanian drivers and truck cargo, and that a dedicated security force had been assigned to the crossing.
The Allenby Bridge is a key route for trade between Jordan and Israel and the only gateway for more than 3 million Palestinians in the West Bank to reach Jordan.
The crossing reopened to passenger traffic shortly after the attack, but had remained closed to aid trucks. The UN says the crossing is a major route for bringing food, tents, and other goods into Gaza.
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US Imposes Sanctions on Network It Accuses of Fueling War in Sudan
A bronze seal for the Department of the Treasury is shown at the US Treasury building in Washington, US, Jan. 20, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
The US on Tuesday imposed sanctions on actors it accused of fueling the war in Sudan, taking aim at what it said was a transnational network that recruits former Colombian military personnel and trains soldiers, including children, to fight for the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
The US Treasury Department in a statement seen by Reuters said that it imposed sanctions on four individuals and four entities that were part of the network, which it said was largely comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.
The Treasury said that since at least 2024, hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have traveled to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF, which the US has accused of committing genocide.
The Colombians have provided the RSF with tactical and training expertise and served as infantry and artillerymen, drone pilots and instructors, among other roles, with some training children to fight for the paramilitary group, according to Treasury, which added that Colombian fighters have participated in battles across Sudan, including in the capital Khartoum and al-Fashir.
“The RSF has shown again and again that it is willing to target civilians — including infants and young children. Its brutality has deepened the conflict and destabilized the region, creating the conditions for terrorist groups to grow,” Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, John Hurley, said in the statement.
Among those targeted was Alvaro Andres Quijano Becerra, who the Treasury said was a dual Colombian-Italian national and a retired Colombian military officer based in the United Arab Emirates. It accused him of playing a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian military personnel to Sudan.
The UAE has been widely accused of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied.
“The United States again calls on external actors to cease providing financial and military support to the belligerents,” Treasury said in the statement.
The conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF erupted in April 2023 out of a power struggle and has triggered famine, ethnic killings, and mass displacement. In November, US President Donald Trump said he would intervene to stop the conflict.
The United States, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia – known as the Quad – earlier in November proposed a plan for a three-month truce followed by peace talks. The RSF responded by saying it had accepted the plan, but soon after attacked army territory with a barrage of drone strikes.