Witness rejects genocide allegation, accuses New York mayor of praising extremists

A witness at the 2025 confirmation hearing forcefully rejected allegations that Israel committed genocide and accused New York Mayor "Mr. Mani" of praising or associating with people the witness described as extremists.

The witness opened by saying the government "has taken innumerable steps to protect the civilian population," then asked rhetorically, "Is this genocide?" and answered: "Of course not. It's the opposite of genocide." The speaker repeatedly criticized those who, the witness said, "invert victim and aggressor" and "distort the facts."

Addressing Mr. Mani directly, the witness said, "since you were elected mayor of this city, many Jews no longer feel safe in New York," and accused Mani of praising "criminals convicted of supporting Hamas." The witness named an associate identified as "Hassan," quoting an alleged statement that "America deserved 911," and said Mani "invite[s] into your home a Palestinian journalist" who filmed and — the witness alleged — later refused to publish videos of hostages.

The witness further alleged that Mani's wife had engaged with social-media posts, saying she "liked a post praising the October 7th massacre" and another post asserting Tel Aviv "shouldn't exist," and accused Mani of refusing to condemn those posts. The transcript records the witness saying Mani "falsely, repeatedly accuse[s] Israel of genocide," framing the mayor's stance as hypocritical in the witness's view.

The speaker also addressed "Mr. Mamdani," saying he had tried "to stop me from coming here" and asserting he could not be silenced. The witness reiterated the claim that "Israel didn't commit genocide" and argued Israel had "prevented genocide," saying opponents "would have killed every last one of" them had Israel not acted.

The provided transcript contains the witness's denials and allegations but does not record responses from Mr. Mani or Mr. Mamdani in the included segments. No formal motions, votes, or official findings on these assertions appear in the supplied excerpt.