Over the past two years, communities of San Diegans have followed critical developments, disappointments, deaths, and destruction in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. All of this enhanced by the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israelis October 7, 2023.
“Within the last 48 hours, Israel struck Lebanon and carried out different kinds of air strikes. I’m not that confident in the ceasefire (in Gaza) because we need accountability from the Israelis,” said Samar Ismail, community organizer for the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) in San Diego.
She spoke to NBC 7, Sunday, at the new Karak House Coffee Company known for its namesake and signature drink, karak, a middle eastern spiced black tea with milk.
I’m not that confident in the ceasefire (in Gaza) because we need accountability from the Israelis.
Samar Ismail, Community Organizer with the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR)
“We really need to see an arms embargo next in negotiations,” Ismail said. “Whether it was Biden or now Trump, the federal administration continues to bankroll Israel’s military and provide weapons killing thousands of people.”
“We are hopeful that we can find a path forward,” Heidi Gantwerk told NBC 7 on Sunday. She is president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County.
Gantwerk returned from a trip to Israel a couple of weeks ago. She spent time with families of the last hostages to be released according to the current ceasefire plan.
“Two years deprived of food, sunlight, and companionship. Two years of abuse,” she said. Like the dozens of other Israelis, last Israeli hostages released will be supported with medical care, therapy, and any other rehabilitation resources needed in their recovery.
Most of the hostage’s families have been displaced since the 2023 attacks and hope to return to their homes with much more safety sometime in the future. While their loved loves remained captive, family members have been moved to hotel rooms and other temporary housing.
For them ending this conflict and making that (Gaza) border safe is the most important way to start to rebuild trust and start to live their lives again.
Heidi Gantwerk, president and CEO Jewish Federation of San Diego County
“Every night they sit down to dinner to the sounds of artillery and the smell and the windows shaking. It’s no way to live. For them ending this conflict and making that border safe is the most important way to start to rebuild trust and start to live their lives again,” Gantwerk said.