*Update*: Mamdani boycotts Israel parade – Hochul and right-wing ministers fill the gap

The Israel Day Parade 2026 in New York took place without the mayor. Zohran Mamdani, the city's first Muslim mayor, stayed away from the event in protest against Israeli Gaza policy – a break with a tradition his predecessors had maintained for decades. Der Spiegel reports that Mamdani deliberately set a political signal that triggered fierce reactions in the city's Jewish community.

Fierce reactions from the Jewish community

Criticism was not long in coming. "Mamdani turned his back on tens of thousands of Jews," was one of the sharpest formulations circulating in the aftermath. According to Haaretz, the Israeli delegation was deliberately staffed at a high level – including far-right Israeli ministers – to strengthen Israel's public image in the US and counter Mamdani's absence.

On the other side of the political spectrum, Democratic heavyweights tried to fill the gap. Governor Kathy Hochul appeared at the parade and shortly before signed a law establishing 15-meter protection zones around synagogues – a direct response to rising antisemitism across the country. The New York Times reports that the parade took place against the backdrop of a noticeable erosion of public support for Israel in the US.

Deep tension within the Democratic Party

The event thus reflects a deep tension that extends far beyond city limits: how do Democratic politicians position themselves between a pro-Palestinian voter base and a Jewish community that increasingly feels under pressure? Mamdani had publicly justified his decision beforehand, as jta.org notes – and in doing so triggered a debate that is likely to occupy the Democratic Party in New York for some time to come.

The parade itself proceeded without major incidents despite the political charge. Thousands participated, including the first Muslim delegation to officially march this year – a detail that was almost lost in the noise surrounding Mamdani's boycott.