The Weight of Connection: Parallel Injustices Faced by Palestinians in the U.S. and Israel
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has cast a stark light on the experiences of Palestinians, not only within the region but also within the diaspora, revealing a pattern of punitive actions taken against those who maintain ties to their homeland or openly oppose the violence. Recent cases in both Israel and the united States demonstrate a troubling trend: individuals are facing severe consequences simply for their Palestinian identity or for acts of solidarity.
One such case centers on 17-year-old Mohammed El-kurdi,a Palestinian American teenager detained by Israeli authorities following the events of october 7th. He was accused of “incitement” related to social media posts, a charge that drew international scrutiny. His lawyer successfully leveraged public pressure stemming from his case to secure the release of three other Palestinian children detained and charged alongside him.
Simultaneously occurring,in the United States,Layla Kordia,a Palestinian woman,was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).According to her affidavit,she had lost “nearly 175 family members – almost an entire generation – to the ongoing genocide in Gaza.” Despite judges twice ordering her release on bond, ICE has repeatedly invoked rarely used “administrative stays” to maintain her detention. This prolonged captivity,despite legal rulings in her favor,underscores a disturbing pattern.
These cases, though unfolding under different legal systems, share a common thread. Both Kordia and El-Kurdi exemplify the repercussions faced by Palestinians who oppose the violence in Gaza or simply maintain a connection to their heritage in the face of Israeli military occupation.
The United States’ unwavering military and diplomatic support for Israel has, according to observers, contributed to a broader escalation of conflict, with Israeli military operations extending beyond Gaza to include Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iran, Tunisia, and Qatar. This support effectively shields Israel from international accountability for actions considered by many to be crimes against humanity.
However, the tide may be turning. A recent shift in American public perception regarding the Palestinian cause is gaining momentum. Elected officials are facing increased scrutiny for their connections to pro-Israel lobbying groups, and social movements are becoming more effective at raising the political and reputational costs of supporting policies perceived as complicit in human rights violations.
This growing awareness is prompting a challenge to the long-standing system of unconditional U.S. support for Israel. It also necessitates confronting similar injustices within the U.S. itself, such as the criminalization of solidarity with Palestine and the denial of due process to the tens of thousands of migrants currently held in detention centers, like Kordia.
Imprisonment, in both contexts, serves to isolate individuals from their communities, rendering them vulnerable. Yet, organized grassroots movements demonstrate the power to challenge these systems, both domestically and internationally, and to fight for the freedom of individuals like Mohammed El-Kurdi and Layla Kordia.
(Sources cited in the original article are preserved within the text as hyperlinks.)
* https://theintercept.com/2025/10/02/gaza-remittance-wire-transfer-hamas-ice/
* https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/09/1165881
* https://x.com/infinite_jaz/status/1995160862001176603
* https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/09/29/us-israel-relations-youth-00578109
* [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/548748b1e4b083fc03ebf70e/t/664fbc07860df7037ba81300/1716501546613/Pal+Legal+Report+Reverberations+of+Oct+7th](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/548748b1e4b083fc03ebf70e/t/664fbc07860df7037ba81300/17165015466
