Lions LB Alex Anzalone's parents trapped in Israel as part of church tour group
The Detroit Lions notched their fourth win of the 2023 season on Sunday but for linebacker Alex Anzalone, his thoughts weren’t on a football game. The former Florida Gator shared that his parents are currently in Israel as the country declared war on Hamas following terror attacks this weekend.
Anzalone’s parents, Sal and Judy Anzalone, are part of a group of 53 Americans currently trapped in Israel amid the ongoing conflict.
“It’s hard,” Anzalone told The Detroit News. “(It’s) really all I’ve been thinking about.”
His parents arrived in Israel on Oct. 2 with the tour group from First Naples, a Baptist congregation in Naples, Florida.
On Saturday, pastor Alan Brumback, who is on the trip with the group, shared an update via the church’s Facebook page.
“We are doing good at our hotel in Jerusalem,” he wrote. “Continue to pray for Israel and for this to be resolved as peacefully and quickly as possible.”
As of now, the tour group has a flight out of Tel Aviv on Thursday. However, the city is also part of the ongoing fighting between the IDF and the Hamas militants.
U.S. citizens killed in Israel amid Hamas attacks
Republican U.S. Congressman Byron Donalds, who represents Naples, discussed the situation on CNN this weekend.
“I have 53 members of my constituency who are in Jerusalem right now,” Donalds said. “Obviously, they are panicked, trying to find their way to get back to America.
“…We need to provide every assistance possible to Israel to get Americans back. And let me be very clear with Hamas — touch an Americans’ head and see what happens to you. That’s my position. That needs to be the position of the president of the United States right now.”
At least nine Americans have reportedly died in the attacks with total deaths climbing to more than 1,000 on Monday.
The NFL posted a message on X on Monday in support of peace in the region and an end to terrorism and hate.
“The NFL mourns the loss of innocent lives in Israel and strongly condemns all forms of terrorism,” the league’s statement reads. “The depravity of these acts is beyond comprehension, and we grieve with the families of those killed, injured and still missing. We pray for peace and will always stand against the evils of hate.”