PHOENIX — The Arizona Muslim Alliance (AMA) welcomes the long-overdue ceasefire in Gaza, offering a vital reprieve after 15 months of devastation and calls for justice, accountability, and immediate humanitarian aid to ensure lasting peace. For Arizona’s Muslim community, including a sizable Palestinian-American population, this moment is deeply personal and meaningful.
“While this news brings a glimmer of hope, we must remain steadfast,” said Ahmed Fayad, AMA chairman and a Palestinian-American. “The path to lasting peace and the full realization of Palestinian rights is complex and requires sustained commitment. It’s crucial to ensure that any ceasefire leads to meaningful improvements in the daily lives of Palestinians and addresses the underlying issues of occupation and blockade.”
A Community of Resilience and Advocacy
Arizona is home to a thriving Palestinian-American community, many of whom are part of the Palestinian Diaspora that began 75 years ago when thousands were displaced from their homeland. The ceasefire resonates deeply with these families, as well as with the broader Muslim community across the state.
Over the past 15 months, Arizona’s Muslim community and their allies have worked to advocate for an end to the blockade in Gaza, the bombings, and the misuse of taxpayer dollars to fund these atrocities. AMA organized educational campaigns, partnered with interfaith groups, and mobilized a phone bank to call for peace and humanitarian aid.
“Our efforts to reach out to our elected officials and our demonstrations fell on deaf ears,” Fayad said. “More of our taxes were being funneled to bomb hospitals, schools, and journalists, and our attempts to be heard were met with disgusting bigotry, justification of war crimes, or ignored altogether. Yet, we found new allies, new friends, and a new power in unity and grassroots efforts.”
The Human Cost
The ceasefire comes after a devastating toll on Gaza’s population. Since October 2023, the Israeli assault on Gaza has left over 47,000 Palestinians dead and more than 111,000 injured. Independent estimates suggest the true death toll may exceed 186,000.
“Muslim Americans and Arizona Muslims have been traumatized for the past 15 months while watching ethnic cleansing and war crimes live-streamed,” Fayad said. “As a community, we are committed to advocating for justice, accountability, and the protection of human rights to ensure this moment is not just a pause in violence but a step toward permanent peace and freedom for Palestinians.”
“Our struggle is not over until the injustice of 75 years of occupation, apartheid, and persecution is undone.”
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ABOUT AMA: The Arizona Muslim Alliance (AMA) is a nonprofit established in 2016 to unify Arizona’s Muslim community through community building, resource sharing, and education. Visit www.azmuslims.org for more information.
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