First Palestinian American Member of Congress Reports ‘Several’ Relatives Killed in Gaza Airstrike

Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images

Justin Amash, the first Palestinian American member of Congress who served until 2021 as a Republican, then as an independent, reported Friday that several of his relatives were killed in Gaza following an airstrike that Al Jazeera said was conducted by Israel.

Amash expressed his sorrow over the loss of his family on social media.

“I was really worried about this. With great sadness, I have now confirmed that several of my relatives (including Viola and Yara pictured here) were killed at Saint Porphyrius Orthodox Church in Gaza, where they had been sheltering, when part of the complex was destroyed as the result of an Israeli airstrike,” he wrote. “Give rest, O Lord, to their souls, and may their memories be eternal. The Palestinian Christian community has endured so much. Our family is hurting badly. May God watch over all Christians in Gaza—and all Israelis and Palestinians who are suffering, whatever their religion or creed.”

According to Al Jazeera, the Greek Orthodox church “has traditionally served as a sanctuary for both Christians and Muslims during Israel’s periodic wars against Gaza.”

Al Jazeera reported that “the church was sheltering hundreds of people when an Israeli bomb severely damaged one of the four buildings in its compound on Thursday evening, causing its ceiling to collapse and leaving dozens trapped under slabs of concrete, according to witnesses.”

After learning of Hamas releasing two American hostages earlier Friday, Amash posted, “This is fantastic news, but Hamas and Islamic Jihad need to unconditionally release all hostages of every nationality.”