Torn Allegiances: The American Dream Amidst International Conflict

Mohammad Enayah, an automotive engineer in Michigan, grapples with the loss of family in Gaza due to Israeli strikes. Despite America welcoming him years ago, his grief is entwined with U.S. arms support for Israel. The conflict has deeply affected Arab Americans, influencing their political perspectives.

In the Detroit suburbs, Mohammad Enayah mourns nearly 100 relatives and friends lost in Gaza over the past year. He struggles with the notion that the U.S., his chosen home, might have supplied the weapons used in Israeli attacks against Palestinians.

Enayah, now 60, recalls how America embraced him as a young student in 1981. However, grief floods his heart when viewing images of family members killed since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. He wrestles with his loyalty to the U.S. and his anguish over American weaponry used against his kin.

The U.S. has not been directly involved in Gaza attacks but remains Israel's top arms supplier. This situation has resonated deeply within Michigan's Arab American and Muslim communities. Many citizens are reconsidering their political affiliations ahead of the pivotal November election.

(With inputs from agencies.)