Rama Duwaji, wife of New York City mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani, has publicly mourned the death of a Palestinian influencer who cheered the horrific October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, according to The New York Post.
Duwaji, an animator wed to socialist politician Mamdani, posted broken-heart emojis on Instagram for Saleh al-Jafarawi, a Gaza-based social media figure killed in clashes between Hamas and other Palestinian factions, whose death has sparked grief among pro-Palestinian activists and relief among many Israelis who saw him as a propaganda tool for terror.
Let’s rewind to 2020, when Jafarawi first started gaining traction by blogging about life in the Gaza Strip.
His posts evolved from everyday musings to full-throated support for Hamas, especially after the brutal October 7, 2023, massacre in Israel, which he openly celebrated with a zeal that earned him the nickname “Mr. FAFO” in Israeli media.
Jafarawi’s social media presence, boasting over 250,000 followers on X, often showed him in dramatic guises—sometimes as a patient, other times a jihadist—crafting a persona that was as captivating as it was controversial.
Yet, when Israel retaliated with strikes on Gaza, he posted a video of himself in tears, a stark contrast to his earlier bravado, revealing a complexity that kept even his critics glued to their screens.
Fast forward to Monday, when Jafarawi met his end during violent clashes reportedly involving Hamas and fighters from the Doghmush clan, as noted by Al Jazeera, while donning a press vest in a chilling final video shared on X.
His death, occurring amid a fragile ceasefire brokered by President Trump’s team, has split opinions down the middle—pro-Palestinian activists lament his loss, while many Israelis breathe a sigh of relief over the silencing of a voice they deemed toxic.
Rama Duwaji, no stranger to outspoken views on the Israel-Hamas conflict alongside her husband, didn’t hold back, labeling him “Beloved Jafarawi” in an Instagram story that’s raised more than a few eyebrows.
Now, let’s talk about that tribute—four broken-heart emojis and a term of endearment for a man who reveled in violence against civilians isn’t just a personal sentiment; it’s a public statement tied to a mayoral candidate’s household.
While Duwaji has every right to grieve, aligning with someone who glorifies terror attacks is a tough pill for many to swallow, especially in a city as diverse and tense as New York.
Even former Israeli spokesperson Eylon Levy couldn’t help but weigh in, admitting a grudging respect for Jafarawi’s charisma: “For the last two years, I have followed Hamas content creator Saleh Al-Jafrawi (‘Mr FAFO’) with a mix of horror and admiration,” as reported by the Times of Israel.
Levy went on, “I was engrossed. Mr FAFO had phenomenal energy, charisma, and creativity,” per the Times of Israel, painting a picture of a showman who could’ve charmed anyone—if only his talents weren’t weaponized for a deadly cause.
But let’s not get dazzled by stage presence; Jafarawi’s legacy is stained by his choice to champion a massacre, and no amount of “panache” or “chutzpah” can whitewash that reality, no matter how magnetic his posts were.
