New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has confirmed that he will not take part in the city’s annual Israel Day Parade, maintaining a position he says is consistent with his long-standing criticism of Israeli government policies and his support for equal rights for Palestinians. His decision marks a break with a tradition often observed by previous city leaders.

The announcement has prompted political reactions within the city, with some officials expressing support for the event and others questioning the mayor’s absence. The New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch said she would attend the parade, underscoring differing positions within the city’s leadership on the matter.

Mamdani reiterated that his stance had been made clear during his election campaign, stating that his views on Israeli policy had not changed. His position comes amid growing international scrutiny of the ongoing genocidal war in Gaza, where civilian casualties and humanitarian conditions continue to draw widespread concern.