American Muslim women from the American Muslim and Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council (AMMWEC) recently returned to the United States following a trip to Israel organized by the Combat Antisemitism Movement. The trip was meant to show solidarity with Israel in the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. While in Israel, the delegation visited the Israeli communities of Sderot, Ofakim, and Rahat.
AMMWEC has taken a very firm stand against Hamas and with the people of Israel, said Anila Ali, CEO of AMMWEC. Ali even spoke in support of Israel against Hamas in a recent rally in Washington, D.C. Following that rally, people started issuing violent threats against her, her friends, and her colleagues in the United States, as well as her family in Pakistan, Dubai, and England. Members of AMMWEC’s board also faced harassment.
While the silent majority of American Muslims have been quietly sending AMMWEC and Ali messages of support, they need to be louder and stronger than the radical voices, Ali asserted. “Chanting ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ will not help peace and future generations,” she said.
Soraya M. Deen, an AMMWEC advisory board member who was also on the trip, called for American Muslims to learn more about Jews and Israel to combat hatred. “100 percent of the criticism of Israel from Muslims comes from those who have not visited Israel,” argued Deen. “We strongly recommend that people get to know more Jewish people and visit Israel.… American Muslims must understand that Hamas is a terrorist organization.”
The women were quick to condemn Hamas. According to Ali:
Using excuses to justify Hamas’ barbarism is an injustice to Islam. Israel gave up Gaza in 2005, and since then, Hamas has only brought poverty and danger to the Palestinians. The attack on innocent Israelis was unprovoked, unjustified, and condemnable. The prophet Mohammad would not approve of this attack on seniors, children, and women, and the barbarity of the attacks makes this one of the worst crimes against humanity.
The AMMWEC delegation also stressed that Hamas is not just the problem of the Jews and Israel. “Hamas is a threat to humanity and the whole world; they will not only attack Israel but will attack everyone,” stated Zebunnesa Zeba Zubair, another participant and member of AMMWEC’s advisory board. Added Ali: “Those who hate Jews today will hate someone else tomorrow. We must break this cycle, and that’s why we are on a mission of peace in time of war.”
Members of the AMMWEC advisory board and Combat Antisemitism Movement with Israeli first lady Michal Herzog (5th from left) (Anila Ali/Steve Postal)
Members in the delegation weighed in on Qatar’s role. Deen stressed that Qatar needs to be held accountable for providing a safe haven for Hamas, and the money it gives to Hamas should be investigated. Deen also stated that Qatar could have played a more decisive role in securing the release of all the hostages but instead was “unwilling” and “disengaged.” But Kelly Herman, a Jewish member of AMMWEC’s advisory board, took a different approach on Qatar, “because the desire to see all of the hostages released [with Qatar’s mediation] is infinitely greater than any disdain for Qatar, its continued support of Hamas, and its propagation of anti-Semitism.”
Participants remained optimistic about long-term prospects of peace and stressed their desire to bring the message of peace back to their communities. “Israel is resilient, and it has expressed kindness to the Muslim world by making peace [in the Abraham Accords],” says Zubair. “The Abraham Accords are important for Israel, neighboring countries, and the world. It’s the responsibility of ordinary people like us to keep the accords alive through cultural diplomacy.”
Deen plans to leverage Muslim Women Speakers, a speaker’s bureau that she heads, “to speak, do workshops, engage students, and share the dangers of anti-Semitism, and to call on women and mothers to create a new dialogue about the [Middle Eastern] conflict.” Deen also stated that Muslim Women Speakers has condemned anti-Semitism for years.
Zubair stressed the need to “know about others and accept their differences.” “I want to start with my own community to improve more interfaith dialogue,” she stated. Farhana Khorshed, a participant who is also a member of AMMWEC’s advisory board and the executive director of the New England Bangladeshi American Foundation Inc. (NEBAF), similarly stressed the need for “open-table dialogues” between Muslims and Jews.
“We are leaving [Israel] today with heavy hearts, emotions, and lots of information that needs to be processed and shared with the world around us. I am certain and hopeful that our experience here will bring a better understanding of the side of Israel that is not being represented,” said Khorshed.
