NEW YORK (Diya TV) — A new controversy has emerged involving Rama Duwaji, the wife of Zohran Mamdani and the first lady of New York City. Critics are raising concerns after reports revealed that Duwaji created an illustration for an essay by Palestinian author Susan Abulhawa, who has a long history of controversial comments about Israel and Jewish people.
The illustration appeared in an essay included in a literary collection that has drawn attention because of Abulhawa’s past statements about the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel.
Duwaji provided artwork for an essay titled “A Trail of Soap.” The essay appeared in the collection Every Moment Is a Life, which Abulhawa compiled. The piece was later published by Everything Is Political, a media platform run by the nonprofit Slow Factory.
The essay focuses on the experiences of a woman in Gaza who struggles to find a functioning bathroom amid difficult conditions. Duwaji contributed a visual illustration to accompany the story. However, the collaboration has drawn criticism because of Abulhawa’s record of statements about Israel and Jewish people on social media and in opinion essays.
Abulhawa, a Palestinian American author and activist, has repeatedly posted strong criticism of Israel online. In the days following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, she wrote an opinion piece in the online publication Electronic Intifada. In that essay, she described the attack as a “spectacular moment that shocked the world.” She also suggested that the attack inspired Palestinians and other oppressed groups.
The attack by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, 2023, killed about 1,200 people in Israel and led to a large-scale war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Since then, Abulhawa has posted numerous comments on social media criticizing Israelis and supporters of Israel. Some posts used harsh language to describe Israelis and Zionists. Critics say the remarks crossed the line into antisemitic rhetoric.
Several posts described Israelis with derogatory language. In other posts, she called Israel an artificial nation and said it should be dismantled. She also wrote messages accusing supporters of Israel of promoting “Jewish supremacy.”
Her posts also referenced organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League and used conspiracy-style claims about global influence.
A spokesperson for Mamdani said Duwaji had no personal relationship with Abulhawa. The spokesperson told the Washington Free Beacon that Duwaji worked as a freelance illustrator and received the assignment through a publisher.
“As is common for freelance illustrators, the First Lady was commissioned to illustrate an excerpt of Abulhawa’s book by an outside publisher,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson also said Duwaji had never met Abulhawa and had not seen the controversial social media posts before the commission. Abulhawa did not respond to requests for comment.
The report about the illustration follows other scrutiny involving Duwaji’s social media activity. Earlier reporting said she had liked posts online that celebrated the Oct. 7 attack and questioned reports of sexual violence against Israeli civilians.
Those claims sparked criticism from some political figures and advocacy groups. The controversy also follows reports that Duwaji and Mamdani attended a dinner with a pro-Palestinian activist whose organization previously used anti-American rhetoric and defended the Hamas attack.
The nonprofit Slow Factory, which published the essay containing Duwaji’s illustration, describes itself as an environmental and social justice organization. The group has received mainstream attention through partnerships with academic institutions and major companies. In past years, it collaborated with Columbia University on educational programs. It has also worked with brands such as Adidas and Gucci.
Abulhawa also maintains strong ties to academic and cultural events related to Palestinian literature. She founded and organizes the Palestine Writes Literature Festival. The festival held a major event at the University of Pennsylvania in 2023. That gathering drew criticism because some speakers had previously made controversial statements about Israel.
One participant included former Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, who has faced criticism for comments about Jewish influence in politics. Another speaker was commentator Marc Lamont Hill, who previously lost his position at CNN after remarks calling for a single state in historic Palestine.
