'Please get my parents home': Detroit Lions' Alex Anzalone reveals mother and father are stuck in Israel
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL: Detroit Lions linebacker and team captain Alex Anzalone has taken to social media to express his concerns about his parents, Sal and Judy, who are currently in Jerusalem and seeking evacuation amidst the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine.
The conflict between Israel and Palestine has been a long-standing and deeply rooted issue, with recent events taking a turn for the worse. Hamas, a Palestinian militant group controlling the Gaza Strip, launched thousands of missiles on Israeli cities and captured nearly 150 hostages on Saturday, October 7.
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Israel, in response, bombed Gaza, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially declaring war against Hamas. The ongoing fighting has resulted in a significant loss of life, with the death toll reaching around 1,100, according to US officials, while violence continues to erupt in cities.
Where are Alex Anzalone's parents?
Amidst the turmoil in Israel, Anzalone took to social media to share his worries about his parents' safety.
He mentioned that his parents, Sal and Judy, are part of a church group from First Naples, a Baptist congregation based in Naples, Florida, that had sent a 53-person group on a tour of Israel.
Now, the group is desperately seeking a way to leave the country and return home due to the intensifying conflict.
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Anzalone's plea for assistance came in response to an interview with Rep Byron Donalds from Florida, who revealed that 53 of his constituents were also in Israel and urgently seeking to leave the country.
He offered a simple plea tweeting, "My parents are in this group. Please get my parents home… @POTUS."
US government responds to the crisis
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has acknowledged the situation, with reports of American casualties and nearly 150 American hostages in Israel. The US government is actively working to verify the status of every US citizen in the country and facilitate their safe evacuation to prevent further escalation of events.
Amidst these concerns, Anzalone continues to fulfill his role as captain of the Detroit Lions, even leading the team to a 42-24 victory over the Carolina Panthers with an impressive performance on the field. The captain and linebacker spearheaded their defensive effort with 11 tackles and successfully registered two hits on quarterback Bryce Young.