Israel-Hamas Conflict: Why Could Millions Of American Muslims Be In Danger?

Rep Ilhan Omar, D-Minn, is one of the few Muslim members of Congress. Her family fled Somalia’s civil war before emigrating to the United States.

She has unequivocally condemned the Hamas attack, but her longstanding criticism of Israel policy toward Palestinians and the US’s support for the country has made her a lightning rod.

Omar told NBC News she feels her life may be at risk after being inundated with concerning threats since a terror attack triggered the raging war in Gaza.

Death Threats Calling Ilhan Omar A “Terrorist Muslim”

Omar’s situation reflects widers fears among scores of Muslim Americans who feel they are being targeted to a degree unprecedented since the days after 9/11.

Voicemails shared with NBC News include death threats calling the Democrat a “terrorist Muslim”. “I’m from a militant group,” the male caller of a second voicemail claimed.

A caller who claimed Omar was being spied on also said the group targeting her had hacked into all of her accounts and was allegedly preparing to poison her and her family.

Shocking Incidents Targeting Muslim And Jewish Americans

The Capitol Police confirmed it has been “enhancing security throughout the Capitol complex”, adding it is diligently working to coordinate with “our law enforcement and intelligence partners”.

In 2020, a New York man was sentenced to a year in prison over threatening calls made to Omar. And last summer, a Florida man was charged over a threat emailed to multiple people, including Omar.

Meanwhile, watchdogs have tracked an increase in the number of incidents targeting Muslim and Jewish Americans seemingly motivated by the war in the Middle East.

Palestinian American Boy Stabbed 26 Times By Landlord

The risk feels especially real to Muslims after a Palestinian American boy outside Chicago was killed by his landlord in what authorities say was a hate crime.

According to court documents, the perpetrator allegedly stabbled the six-year-old 26 times after expressing hatred of Muslims and fury over the Hamas assault.

Wadea Al-Fayoume’s mother, Hanaan Shahin, was stabbed more than a dozen times, according to authorities, who said she is seeking treatment at a hospital and is expected to survive.