New York's mayor is taking fire from both sides over his October 7th statement, a sign that no middle ground on Israel and Gaza is politically safe right now.

• Mamdani mourned the Israelis killed by Hamas three years ago and also condemned Israel's killing of tens of thousands of Palestinians.
• Pro-Palestinian protesters called him a sellout and a traitor at a candlelight vigil, saying his outreach to Jewish New Yorkers goes too far.
• Pro-Israel voices attacked the same statement, with Ben Shapiro counting how many words went to each side and a reporter photographing him eating at a Palestinian restaurant.
• Democrats including Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Ritchie Torres piled on, even though the statement called the Hamas attack a war crime.
• The mayor has no say over foreign policy, yet the fight over his words is consuming his first months in office.

Outlook: Expect the attacks from both directions to continue, with Mamdani trying to hold a middle position that neither side wants.