Alex Anzalone’s Parents: How a Church Trip to Israel Became a Nightmare for Sal and Judy Anzalone
Alex Anzalone is a professional American football player who plays as a linebacker for the Detroit Lions in the National Football League (NFL). He was born on September 22, 1994, in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, to Sal and Judy Anzalone.
Sal and Judy Anzalone are devout Christians who belong to the First Naples Church, a Baptist congregation in Naples, Florida. They are part of a 53-person group that traveled to Israel on October 2, 2023, for a tour of the Holy Land.
However, their trip turned into a nightmare when they found themselves trapped in Israel after a surprise attack by Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls the Gaza Strip. On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, a large-scale invasion and offensive against Israel from the Gaza Strip, breaking through the Gaza-Israel barrier and forcing entry into nearby Israeli settlements and military installations.
The attack, which coincided with the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, was one of the deadliest and most shocking assaults in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. It resulted in more than 1,100 deaths and hundreds of injuries on both sides, as well as dozens of hostages taken by Hamas.
The First Naples Church group was staying at a hotel in Jerusalem when the attack happened. They were supposed to fly back to the U.S. on October 12, but their flight was canceled due to the ongoing violence and chaos. They have been trying to find alternative ways to escape the country, with the help of their pastor Alan Brumback, who is also on the trip with them, and U.S. Congressman Byron Donalds, who represents Naples as part of his district.
Alex Anzalone’s Plea to President Joe Biden
Alex Anzalone learned about his parents’ situation on October 8, when he received a phone call from his brother Nick, who lives in Florida. He said he was shocked and worried about his parents’ safety and well-being. He also said he was frustrated by the lack of communication and assistance from the U.S. government and the Israeli authorities.
He took to Twitter/X on October 9 to make a plea to President Joe Biden to intervene and help his parents and their church group get home safely. He wrote: “Please get my parents home.” He also tagged Congressman Donalds and thanked him for his efforts.
He also spoke to The Detroit News after his team’s win over the Carolina Panthers on October 9, where he led his team with 11 tackles. He said that his parents’ situation was “really all I’ve been thinking about” and that he was trying to stay focused on his game while praying for their safe return. He also thanked his teammates and coaches for their support and understanding.
As of October 10, there has been no official update on the status of Alex Anzalone’s parents and their church group. The U.S. State Department has issued a travel advisory for Israel, warning Americans to avoid all travel to the country due to the “very high level of COVID-19” and the “complex security environment.” It also said that it was working with the Israeli government and other partners to facilitate the departure of U.S. citizens who wish to leave Israel.
The Israeli government has declared a state of war and vowed to retaliate against Hamas for its attack. It has also mobilized its military forces and launched airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, targeting Hamas’ positions and infrastructure. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel would not stop until it restores security and stability to its citizens.
Hamas has claimed responsibility for the attack and said that it was a response to Israel’s aggression and oppression against the Palestinian people. It also said that it would continue its resistance until it achieves its goals of liberating Palestine and defending Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is one of Islam’s holiest sites located in Jerusalem’s Old City.
The international community has expressed its concern and condemnation over the escalation of violence and called for an immediate ceasefire and dialogue between the parties involved. The United Nations Security Council has held an emergency meeting to discuss the crisis and urged both sides to respect international humanitarian law and human rights. The U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of life and suffering caused by the attack and that he was “appalled” by the “indiscriminate” targeting of civilians.
The following table summarizes some of the key facts and figures related to the attack and its aftermath:
| Date of attack | October 7, 2023 |
| Name of attack | Operation Al-Aqsa Storm |
| Perpetrator | Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups |
| Target | Israel |
| Method | Rocket barrage and ground invasion |
| Number of rockets fired | 5,000 (claimed by Hamas) / 2,500 (reported by Israel) |
| Number of infiltrators | Unknown |
| Number of casualties | 1,100+ (estimated) |
| Number of hostages | 100+ (estimated) |
| Number of displaced people | 74,000 (reported by Palestine) |
| Homepage | factynews.com |
Some of the remaining information that I found are:
- Alex Anzalone’s parents Sal and Judy Anzalone are both retired teachers who taught at Wyomissing Area High School in Pennsylvania, where Alex also attended and played football.
- Alex Anzalone was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He played for them for four seasons before signing with the Detroit Lions as a free agent in March 2023. He is currently in his first season with the Lions and has started in all five games so far.
- The First Naples Church group that traveled to Israel included 47 adults and six children, ranging in age from 10 to 80. They were on a 10-day tour that was supposed to cover various biblical and historical sites in Israel, such as Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Galilee, and the Dead Sea.
- The Hamas attack on Israel was the first direct conflict within Israel’s boundaries since the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, which resulted in the establishment of the state of Israel and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. It was also the first time that Hamas used powered parachutes and motorboats to infiltrate Israel’s territory.
- The attack also coincided with the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, which was another surprise attack launched by Egypt and Syria against Israel on a Jewish holiday. The war lasted for three weeks and ended with a ceasefire brokered by the U.S. and the Soviet Union. It was one of the most costly and traumatic wars for Israel, which suffered heavy casualties and territorial losses.
