In the immediate aftermath of Hamas’ attack on Israel last Oct. 7, tensions could be felt far from the Gaza Strip.
In Massachusetts, religious leaders were on alert during services at their synagogues and mosques.
Residents called for the release of Israeli hostages and worried about friends trapped in Gaza, unable to get home.
Protesters called on elected officials, businesses and institutions to address the conflict.
And as the Israel-Hamas war continued over the course of the year, it also continued to shape daily life in Massachusetts.
Abood Okal, Wafaa Abuzayda and their 1-year-old son Yousef left their home in Medway, Massachusetts, to visit relatives in Gaza. After Oct. 7, they found refuge in a single-family home with around 40 other people.
Every day at dawn, friend and legal advocate Sammy Nabulsi would check in on the family from Boston to see how they were doing. He said the family …