Overview

• In a New York Times interview, Andrew Cuomo called the Gaza war “horrific,” urged that it “should end today,” and tied an end to the return of hostages.
• Cuomo distanced himself from Benjamin Netanyahu and said his past ICC involvement focused on jurisdiction, declaring, “I never stood with Bibi.”
• The remarks mark a departure from his earlier pro-Israel posture, which included launching a pro-Israel group and joining a legal team assembled to defend Netanyahu at the ICC.
• A New York Times/Siena College poll shows 44% of New York City voters sympathize more with Palestinians versus 26% with Israel, and a plurality prefer Zohran Mamdani’s approach to the conflict.
• His new position aligns with statements from mainstream Democrats such as Governors Josh Shapiro and J. B. Pritzker, while his campaign declined to elaborate on the shift.