Texans grieve losses from Middle East war, students try to bring peace at home
AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- As the war in the Middle East expands, some Texans are feeling the loss personally. And it's happening to people on both sides of the conflict. Both Israeli and Palestinian Americans are grieving loved ones killed in Israel and in Gaza.
LeElle Slifer of Dallas lost a family member who was recently killed as a hostage in Gaza.
"She was a good playmate growing up, we used to have sleepovers ... everything was great and fine and lovely,” said Slifer whose cousin was killed as a Hamas hostage. “And then they woke up on Oct. 7.”
While the anniversary passed Monday, Texans like Slifer relive the Oct. 7 attack every day.
"We didn't know for a while what had happened to Carmel,” Slifer said. “It took a while because there were bodies that we were finding for days after Oct. 7... we learned from two teenagers who had been kept with her in Gaza, that she was doing yoga with them, that she was helping them meditate ... they called her their guardian angel, and she was watching over them."
Her cousin was described as an angel in life, and now in death. Last month, she was found executed underground in Rafah.
"Since that day ... the broader Texas community has really rallied to support me and to support not only Israel but also Jews living here in Texas who are subject to anti-Semitism," Slifer said.
Palestinian Americans are also among the Texans grieving the tens of thousands of Gazans killed in Israeli airstrikes.
Some students are now working to mend the pain on college campuses.
"There is pain on all sides of this issue, but how we utilize that pain matters, and I hope we can utilize that pain as a source of unity, rather than tribalization and animosity," Elijah Kahlenberg said.
Kahlenberg is the president of the UT chapter of “Atidna,” an organization that started at UT Austin and has since spread to ten college campuses. “Atidna” means “our future” in a blend of Hebrew and Arabic. The group brings together Palestinian and Israeli peace activists.
"The first goal is to solidify that Jews and Arabs, Israelis and Palestinians are cousins or one family, not inherent enemies,” Kahlenberg said.
Slifer is also finding comfort in the comradery between Texas and Israel.
“We are a people who say it to everyone else, 'Come and take it,’” Slifer said. “And so that ethos really translates well to the Israeli ethos of standing your ground and protecting your home.”