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Bass and Raman differ over Gaza at Jewish Federation forum
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (left) and L.A. City Councilmember Nithya Raman.
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Myung J. Chun (left) and Genaro Molina (right)
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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
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International politics moved front and center in the Los Angeles mayor’s race Tuesday night, with the candidates offering differing views on how to describe what’s happening in Gaza.
Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and challenger City Councilmember Nithya Raman answered questions separately at a forum sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles at the Skirball Cultural Center in the Sepulveda Pass. The candidates were interviewed back-to-back on stage by moderator Alex Cohen.
The forum was designed to address the concerns of Jewish Angelenos.
Raman was asked about her use of the term “genocide” and whether it is appropriate to describe Israel’s attacks on Gaza.
L.A. City Councilmember Nithya Raman, right, on stage with moderator Alex Cohen at the Skirball Cultural Center during a mayoral forum on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
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Jeff Rowe
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“I used it because other experts have used it to describe what’s happening,” she said. “And I used it because I felt compelled to speak out about issues that we saw, the images that we saw, the targeting of hospitals, the deaths of children.”
Bass had a different response from her opponent when asked whether she believes the term applies in Gaza.
“When I think of foreign affairs, especially conflicts, my focus is on how they impact the city of L.A. — no, I don’t,” Bass responded.
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L.A. Mayor Karen Bass answers questions at a mayoral candidates forum held at the Skirball Cultural Center.
The Gaza Health Ministry estimates 74,000 Palestinians have died in the war, including many children and noncombatants.
The war started on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people and kidnapping 251.
Genocide is an international crime defined by the United Nations as any act committed with the specific intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.
The U.S. government and Israel vehemently deny genocide is going on in Gaza. Many other countries and human rights organizations disagree, saying it is genocide.
Candidates differ on Israel boycott
The two also split on the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel.
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Raman called it “a legitimate form of peaceful protest” against Israel over its treatment of the Palestinians, prompting loud boos from some in the crowd.
“I support people’s right to protest,” she said. “And I will fight for that right even when I don’t agree with protesters, or when I agree with protesters.”
Raman is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, which supports the boycott and divestment of Israel.
Bass said she would oppose any effort to enact sanctions against Israel.
Cohen also asked Raman about her appearance with Hasan Piker, a left-wing Twitch streamer and outspoken critic of Israel.
Raman said she disagreed with some of Piker’s views, saying it’s important for elected officials “to go speak to them even when you disagree.”
Raman said she has been an outspoken critic of antisemitism and was the first L.A. elected official to denounce the 2023 attack on Israel.
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National polls on Gaza
The divergence in views between Bass and Raman represents a larger shift in the Democratic Party over Israel.
A new AP-NORC poll found erosion of support for the longtime U.S. ally, with rising opposition from Democrats.
About one-third of U.S. adults — including roughly half of Democrats — believe that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians during the war in Gaza, according to The Associated Press. About 2 in 10 Americans say Israel has not, and the rest, about half, don’t know enough to say.
A similar share, 30%, of Jewish adults say Israel has committed genocide, although about half, 49%, say it has not.
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