Detroit Lions Linebacker Alex Anzalone Says His Parents Are Stuck in Israel Amid Deadly Conflict

Anzalone's parents arrived in Israel on Oct. 2 with their Naples-based church group before the deadly conflict broke out

Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone revealed that his parents are currently stuck in Israel with a church group as deadly conflict has broken out in the country.

After the Lions defeated the Carolina Panthers 42-24 on Sunday, Anzalone, 29, spoke to The Detroit News about his parents, Sal and Judy Anzalone, as they attempt to leave the country as soon as possible. "It's hard. [It's] really all I’ve been thinking about," Anzalone told the outlet.

According to The Detroit News, Sal and Judy arrived in Israel on Oct. 2 with a tour group from their Baptist congregation, First Naples, based in Naples, Florida.

The church's pastor Alan Brumback provided an update on his Facebook account, letting friends and family know that the group is safe and "doing well" as of Sunday evening.

Brumback said the 53-person group is currently booked on a flight out of Tel Aviv scheduled for Thursday morning, and the group has been able to continue some of their itinerary "cautiously" as the Tel Aviv area remains a central location for the deadly conflict between Israel and Hamas.

An earlier post from Brumback read, "Thank you to everyone who has been reaching out. God is good. We are doing good at our hotel in Jerusalem. Continue to pray for Israel and for this to be resolved as peacefully and quickly as possible. We are trusting in the Lord and we know that God’s got this. I’ll keep you updated."

Related: Joe Biden Offers Support to Israel as Prime Minister Says 'We Are at War' After Hamas Attack

In a since-deleted post on X (formerly known as Twitter), the NFL player shared a video of congressman Byron Donalds speaking to CNN about the group's safety, the Detroit News reported. According to the outlet, Donalds said, "I have 53 members of my constituency who are in Jerusalem right now. Obviously, they are panicked, trying to find their way to get back to America."

Per the Detroit outlet, Anzalone tagged President Joe Biden in the post on X and wrote, "Please get my parents home," alongside the video of Donalds speaking.

Biden, 80, is standing by Israel after a surprise attack by Hamas militants killed over 200 Israelis, an action that prompted Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare on Saturday that the country is “at war.”

The President issued a statement on Saturday explaining his stance on the matter after recently speaking with Prime Minister Netanyahu “about the horrific and ongoing attacks in Israel.”

“The United States unequivocally condemns this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza, and I made clear to Prime Minister Netanyahu that we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the Government and people of Israel,” the president wrote.

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He continued, “Terrorism is never justified. Israel has a right to defend itself and its people. The United States warns against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation. My Administration’s support for Israel’s security is rock solid and unwavering.”

Israel and Palestine have been fighting for the right to claim Jerusalem as their capital for decades. Although Israel governs Jerusalem, Palestinians want control of East Jerusalem, which consists of the West Bank and Gaza, where several Palestinians now reside following their displacement as a result of 20th-century Arab-Israeli conflicts that began around the formation of Israel.

Anzalone was drafted into the NFL in 2017 by the New Orleans Saints. He joined the Detroit Lions roster in 2022.

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