MILWAUKEE — People in Wisconsin are feeling the impacts of the war between Israel and Hamas.
The price of war is suffering and heartbreak. The Islamic Society of Milwaukee reports one of its members lost his older sister to the violence in Gaza.
Mohammad Hamad lives in Brookfield. He says his sister, Faheemah Jameel Hamad, was at a marketplace in a refugee camp with her daughter-in-law when Israeli airstrikes hit. Faheemah was killed. She was 66 years old.
In a statement to TMJ4, Mohammad says his sister was a mother to three and grandmother to five. He described her as "a dream of a big sister," the main caregiver for their mother, and someone with a gentle heart.
Mohammad says Faheemah went to Cairo University then worked as a speech therapist, special education teacher and principal in the City of Beit Hanoun in the Gaza Strip. Her specialty was working with children who suffered trauma in Gaza due to attacks by Israelis.
Mohammad said his sister's death is a tremendous loss for their family and the Beit Hanoun.
The Islamic Society of Milwaukee hosted a rally on Tuesday where hundreds gathered to show their support for the rising number of innocent lives lost in the crossfire.
Milwaukeeans raised Palestinian flags and cheered for peace for their families overseas.
Wasim Mohamed, a Palestinian who moved to the United States for college says his friends father was killed among the violence.
Munjed Ahmad, a board member with the Islamic Society says the show of support represents solidarity with those suffering a world away.
"People came here in large numbers because they know that Palestinian people have suffered long enough, they've endured, they've been as patient at they can," said Ahmad.
Another rally in support of Gaza will be held at Zeidler Park at 5 p.m. this Wednesday.
It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.
Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
