Groups raise $500K for Gaza aid

Gregg Krupa / The Detroit News

Local Muslim community groups say they have raised more than $500,000 this month for relief in war-torn Gaza, and a billboard advertising campaign has begun to draw attention to the plight of the Palestinians.

"Despite these difficult economic times, now is not the time to merely give your extra wealth, now is the time to make real sacrifices," said Farhan Abdul-Azeez, as he helped raise $164,000 at a Dearborn fundraiser sponsored by Islamic Relief and the Islamic Center of Detroit.

While some residents say they fear their contributions might fall into the wrong hands, leaving them open to charges of assisting terrorists -- in part, because the United States considers Hamas, the Islamic resistance movement that governs Gaza, a terrorist organization -- two charities say they have obtained permission from the Israeli government to ship humanitarian supplies to Gaza. And one of the charities, Islamic Relief, also gives the donations directly to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.

"This is a common question we come across: How well can a donor be sure that the aid is getting through to the proper organizations?" said Mostafa Mahboob, a spokesman for Islamic Relief. "Our work has spoken for that concern. We have been able to deliver aid to UN organizations and others designated by Israel, including the World Health Organization and the World Food Program."

Several mosques have been the sites of recent fundraisers, and students at Fordson High School raised $117,000 Saturday night.

The Congress of Arab American Organizations in Michigan raised $6,000 for two billboards -- at I-94 and Greenfield and at the Southfield and Grand River. The billboards read, "Free Palestine. America, yes we can! Peace with justice for Palestinians now."

"We hope to have six to eight billboards eventually," said Osama Siblani, of the organization.