Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone played in an NFL game Sunday afternoon through the pain of knowing that his parents are trapped in Israel following the nation’s worst terrorist attack in decades.
Speaking with The Detroit News, Anzalone said his Florida-based mother and father were on an overseas trip with fellow parishioners from the First Naples Church when Hamas launched a surprise attack that has taken the lives of 700 and led to scores of hostages captured. With air traffic in disarray, Anzalone said his parents are now fighting for their lives to find any route they can back to the U.S.
“It’s hard… it’s really all I’ve been thinking about,” he said following the Lions’ win over the Carolina Panthers.
Alan Brumback, the church’s pastor, posted on his Facebook page, “We are doing good at our hotel in Jerusalem, adding a plea to “continue to pray for Israel and for this to be resolved as peacefully and quickly as possible.”
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), who represents Naples, told CNN that Anzalone’s parents are just two of the dozens of constituents stranded as a result of the conflict.
“I have 53 members of my constituency who are in Jerusalem right