Shahana Hanif: Controversies and Criticism

Israel-Palestine Positions and Antisemitism Accusations

Hanif has been one of the most vocal critics of Israeli military operations among New York City Council members, a stance that has generated sustained backlash from segments of her district's large Jewish constituency . In the days following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, Hanif posted on social media that the root cause of the conflict was the occupation of the Palestinian people, a statement she later deleted . Critics argued that the post failed to condemn Hamas and amounted to justifying the attacks. On October 20, 2023, Hanif was arrested alongside over 130 demonstrators at a ceasefire rally in Midtown Manhattan, where protestors called on Senators Schumer and Gillibrand to support a ceasefire . Some of the rally's participants were reported to have chanted slogans that critics characterized as antisemitic .

In April 2023, Hanif was one of only two Council members to vote against a resolution designating April 29 as End Jew Hatred Day, calling the initiative a far-right idea . A group of her constituents subsequently published an op-ed in the Daily News accusing her of turning a blind eye to rising antisemitism in the district . In April 2024, she visited the Gaza Solidarity Encampment at Columbia University, where she and other Council members described the demonstrators as engaging in nonviolent advocacy for divestment from Israel . She also endorsed the Leave It Blank campaign, which encouraged voters to submit blank ballots in the 2024 Democratic presidential primary as a protest against federal military support for Israel .

Hanif's supporters, including the group Jews for Shahana and the organization Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, have argued that the scrutiny directed at the only Muslim woman in city elected office regarding her positions on Hamas reflects a double standard rooted in anti-Muslim bias . Hanif has maintained that she has repeatedly condemned Hamas and has introduced legislation for an annual campaign to combat antisemitism ⁹.

Jahannam Social Media Post (May 2026)

In May 2026, Hanif posted on social media that she hoped two Muslim women who helped organize a pro-Israel rally outside Gracie Mansion would be condemned to Jahannam, an Islamic term referring to hell . The post targeted Anila Ali of the American Muslim and Multifaith Women's Empowerment Council and another activist who participated in the EndJewHatred-organized demonstration criticizing Mayor Zohran Mamdani's positions on Israel . The comment drew backlash from Jewish organizations, conservative media outlets, and some fellow Council members, with Council Member Inna Vernikov criticizing Hanif for condemning Muslims willing to work with Jews . Hanif defended the remark, describing it as a common expression of frustration directed at members of her own community for joining what she characterized as a hate rally, and suggested that the criticism was inflated by anti-Muslim sentiment and the use of Arabic in public discourse .

Discretionary Funding Controversy

In March 2025, the New York Post reported that Hanif had directed over $149,000 in discretionary taxpayer funds to nonprofits where her husband, Abdullah Younus, held board positions . The organizations included the Arab American Association of New York and the Arab American Family Support Center . According to the report, Hanif increased or decreased funding to these groups in apparent correlation with Younus's involvement: She allocated funds to the Arab American Association while Younus served on its board, reduced funding after he departed, and then increased allocations to the Arab American Family Support Center after he joined its board in 2024 . Hanif did not file conflict-of-interest disclosures with the City Council regarding the allocations . Hanif responded on social media, calling the accusations false and desperate, and stating that her relationship with the organizations preceded meeting her husband and that Younus received no financial compensation for his board service . She also noted that her predecessor, Brad Lander, had allocated comparable amounts to the same organizations .

Gowanus Rezoning Criticism

In 2022, Hanif requested a modification to a proposed Gowanus rezoning on Ninth Street, reducing the maximum building size from nine stories to five stories . Housing advocates criticized the decision, arguing that it would produce dozens fewer units, including fewer affordable units, than the original plan approved by the local community board . The Gotham Gazette editorial board characterized the action as allowing an affluent, majority-white district to avoid doing its fair share of welcoming new affordable housing, noting that it reduced what could have been 48 apartments with 13 affordable units to a maximum of 23 apartments with three to six affordable units . Hanif's office countered that the original proposal was not a binding commitment and that the modification reflected community input .

Constituent Services Complaints

Some constituents have criticized Hanif's office for accessibility issues, with one retired attorney and constituent telling the Post that Hanif was inaccessible for over a year without a physical district office and that staff were rude when the office eventually opened . Hanif's primary opponent, Maya Kornberg, cited constituent services shortcomings as a campaign issue, and some community members aligned with Brooklyn BridgeBuilders raised similar concerns .

DSA Tensions

In February 2026, Hanif faced pointed questioning at a Democratic Socialists of America endorsement interview, where some DSA members criticized her for having belatedly condemned the October 7 Hamas attacks . The episode highlighted tensions between Hanif's progressive coalition and the further-left positions held by some DSA activists who objected to any condemnation of Hamas .