MICHIGAN, US

Voters in the US state of Michigan, notably in the Arab American hub of Dearborn, sent a resounding message in the Nov. 5 presidential election that was driven by opposition to the US stance on the Gaza Strip.

Dearborn, where more than half of the population has Middle Eastern roots, views the current US government as supporting genocide. Residents shifted support from the Democrat Party to the Republican Party, which contributed to Donald Trump’s nearly seven-point win against Kamala Harris in the city.

Residents, who traditionally vote Democrat, demonstrated a stark change in this election.

In 2020, Trump received only around 30% of the vote in Dearborn, compared to Joe Biden’s 69%. This year, voters appeared to respond to what they view as a lack of action by Democrats against Israel in its more than year-long onslaught in Gaza, which has killed in excess of 43,000 victims.

“This community usually votes majority Democrat. They didn't this time around,“ resident Mohammad Abudrabo told Anadolu, reflecting his frustration. “I think regular people are not happy, and people who normally vote Democrat feel like they’re not being heard.”

He accused Democrats of losing “touch with reality."

Abudrabo criticized the Democratic Party’s support for Israel, noting that “60% of Democrats oppose the genocide. So just as a matter of politics, why would you not stop it?”

Ali Altimi emphasized the profound importance of Palestine for the community -- regardless of party affiliation.

“Whether it's Republican or Democrat, the biggest thing for us, and I think everyone in Dearborn shares this, is what's happening in Palestine,” he said.

He indicated that even those who are not into politics or outside the Middle Eastern community are concerned about the financial aid flowing overseas while Americans struggle with inflation. “With prices increasing here, it’s like common sense," he said.

Altimi hopes a change in leadership could improve the situation domestically and abroad. He said people are fed up and want economic stability. And they want the killings to stop In Palestine.

"So, I think that Gaza played a role in the Democrats losing."

Since Israel launched war on Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, most of the more than 43,400 Palestinians who have been killed have been women and children, and more than 102,300 others have been injured, according to local health authorities.

More than a year into the onslaught, vast tracts of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel stands accused of genocide against Palestinians at the International Court of Justice.