Oklahoma City Muslim Leader Worries For His Family Amid Attack On Israel

One leader at the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City said he is saddened by the loss of life in Israel. This conflict affects his family thousands of miles away. 

Inside a Northwest Oklahoma City Mosque, a person will find Dr. Imad Enchassi enjoying a book and leading the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City. 

“If you are Jewish or Christian, I am your brother from a different mother,” Enchassi said. “My mosque have about 72 ethnicities from about forty-two different countries.”  

However, Enchassi is worried.  

“Yeah, that’s my family,” said Enchassi, as he pointed to his phone. “My family in Gaza is not even chatting because there’s no internet – no electricity.”  

He was talking to his sister. Enchassi’s family lives in Lebanon and Gaza. He says his sister is preparing for the worst.  

“Department of education suspended all classes right now,” Enchassi said. “In anticipation of an Israeli strike to Lebanon.”  

It’s been two days since a surprise Hamas attack on Israel. “Was I surprised? Not really,” Enchassi said. 

Enchassi said Palestine has been under 16 years of Israeli siege, “They have no water, no electricity,” Enchassi said. “Perhaps they’ve lost the will to live.” 

The conflict has killed hundreds of people so far – a statistic that pains Enchassi.   

“The loss of life – incident people are always a sad thing. It doesn’t matter whose life it is.”  

Enchassi said perspective matters in a conflict that affects many different people including those right down the street, “We have to look at the human aspect of what is happening,” Enchassi said. “There’s is a power in prayers.”  

Enchassi said his family in Gaza has no electricity. He remains hopeful they will make it through this conflict.