The populous city of Detroit, along with its suburban extents, have been resonating with fervent expressions of outrage following a series of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. The dominant sentiment within the Arab American community appears to be one of desolation and lack of guidance. Haneen Mahbuba, a resident of the region, experienced a deep, emotional reaction to the news of the strikes that claimed numerous lives. She distinctly recalls the overwhelming sorrow and desperation that left her gasping for breath when she saw the news unfold.
Having seen horrifying images of a young child severely wounded by the conflict, the incident touching a raw nerve because of the child’s resemblance in age to her own daughter, Mahbuba was devastated. As a mother, her immediate response was to pray fervently for peace and an end to the senseless violence. She says, and this sentiment is echoed by many in her community, ‘It feels as if we have been left out in the cold. It feels as if the very organizations that champion human rights have forsaken us, and so have our local politicians.’
Doubts were cast, and deeper questions emerged within the Arab American community – to whom could they look for support, guidance, and action? This profound sense of desolation can be traced back to the first few months of the Trump presidency, notably intensifying during the recent Israeli airstrikes on Gaza that targeted, according to Israeli intelligence, Hamas locations.
In a series of interviews conducted over recent weeks within the region, a shared sentiment of disillusionment formed a constant thread. Across the board, Arab Americans felt that their political concerns, especially regarding Gaza, were given scant attention by both major political parties.
This part of southeastern Michigan, lying near the Canadian border, has a lengthy history of Arab and Muslim heritage extending back centuries. It represents one of the most densely populated and influential enclaves of this ethnic group in all of America.
During the recent conflict in Gaza, many Arab Americans in Detroit and the surrounding areas felt dismayed by the Biden administration’s actions. Their political inclinations, shaped in part by these events, manifested in a significant shift during the November voting process.
In a clear political statement, the large clusters of Arab American voting districts, traditionally firm supporters of Democratic presidential candidates, swayed perceptibly towards supporting the shrewdness and strengths of Mr. Trump. For them, this marked the dawn of a new political era, one they could optimistically consider offering a call to action in response to their concerns.