Full Breakdown
Stabbing on Manhattan’s Upper West Side Sparks Debate Over Mayor’s Rhetoric and Antisemitism
7/26/2026, 8:52:51 PM
The Attack
On a Thursday afternoon, two men were stabbed within a two-block stretch of the Upper West Side. Police say 57-year-old Asian resident Chok Sung was attacked near West 84th Street and Central Park West, followed minutes later by 50-year-old Moshe Yezhak Grunhaus, who was wearing a yarmulke, on West 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. Witnesses reported the assailant, identified as 51-year-old Raul Morales, shouting “Allahu Akbar” as he struck each victim with a screwdriver. Both victims survived; Sung remained hospitalized while Grunhaus was released after treatment.
Background: Mayor Mamdani’s Israel Stance
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has drawn criticism from pro-Israel groups for repeatedly labeling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “war criminal” and suggesting the city might enforce an arrest warrant if Netanyahu visited New York. In a video released shortly before the stabbings, Mamdani defended the remarks as critiques of a political leader, not of Jewish people. The mayor’s comments have been cited by community leaders as contributing to a climate of heightened tension for Jews in the city.
Data on Hate Crimes
City police data show that hate crimes have risen in recent years while overall violent crime has declined. According to the NYPD, more than half of all confirmed hate crimes in the city so far this year targeted Jewish individuals. The attacks on Sung and Grunhaus occurred in broad daylight and were classified by the NYPD as hate-crime incidents.
Conflicting Reports on Legal Proceedings
Sources differ on the status of charges against Morales. One outlet reported that he was arraigned on two counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault and one count of attempted assault, all to be tried as hate crimes, and that a judge ordered a psychiatric evaluation. Another outlet indicated that prosecutors had not yet filed charges by Friday evening. A third source stated that Morales faced hate-crime charges for the attack on Grunhaus and separate assault charges for the attack on Sung, with additional weapon-possession counts.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We are praying so much that things don't get worse that he will really really hoping that he will fully recuperate, We really hope,” — Naba Silton — Naba Silton, friend of the victim
- “After he plunged the screwdriver into his chest, the guy walked off and pretended he was a regular Joe and said oh, 'I think someone is hurt, and call 911,'” — Silton. Dr. Nava Silton — Dr. Nava Silton, eyewitness and medical professional
- “Standing here @ Mount Herzl Cemetery 2 years after the October 7th massacre (Hebrew calendar, day after but first day of funerals for the nation),” — Apple. Moshe Yezhak Grunhaus — Moshe Yezhak Grunhaus, Facebook post commemorating the October 7 massacre
What’s Next
Morales is scheduled to appear in court on July 30. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office will determine the final charges, and city officials have pledged to increase funding for the mayoral office tasked with preventing hate crimes. Ongoing investigations will assess whether the suspect’s motivations were solely personal or influenced by broader community tensions.
