A Democratic Senate candidate’s fundraising email commemorating October 7th sparked fierce backlash by focusing solely on Palestinian casualties while completely ignoring the Israeli victims of Hamas’s terrorist attack.
Story Snapshot
- Abdul El-Sayed sent a fundraising email on the October 7th anniversary that omitted mention of Israeli victims
- The Michigan Senate candidate’s message focused exclusively on Palestinian casualties and suffering
- Critics condemned the email as “unbelievably tone deaf” and politically opportunistic
- The controversy highlights ongoing tensions within the Democratic Party over Israel-Palestine messaging
A Fundraising Email That Missed the Mark
Abdul El-Sayed, seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Michigan, chose October 7th to send supporters a fundraising message that would quickly become a political lightning rod. The email, intended to commemorate the anniversary of Hamas’s attack on Israel, instead drew widespread criticism for its glaring omission of Israeli victims. El-Sayed’s decision to focus exclusively on Palestinian casualties while soliciting campaign donations struck many observers as both tactless and opportunistic.
The timing and tone of El-Sayed’s message revealed a troubling disconnect between political ambition and basic human decency. October 7th marks the day when Hamas terrorists murdered over 1,200 Israelis, including babies, children, and elderly civilians, while taking hundreds hostage. Yet El-Sayed’s fundraising appeal made no mention of these victims, instead using the solemn anniversary to advance his political narrative and campaign coffers.
Republicans are making hay out of Abdul El-Sayed's fundraising email that . @VoteTimScott put out a statement saying "Abdul El-Sayed doesn't just oppose Chuck Schumer as Senate Democrats' leader, he opposes Schumer's right to exist." https://t.co/zeJXSHusaR pic.twitter.com/ZM4R2aSQZ7
— Eric Michael Garcia (@EricMGarcia) October 7, 2025
The Political Calculation Behind the Controversy
El-Sayed’s email reflects a calculated appeal to Michigan’s substantial Arab-American population, particularly in areas like Dearborn where anti-Israel sentiment runs strong. This demographic targeting, while politically understandable, demonstrates a concerning willingness to exploit tragedy for electoral gain. The candidate’s approach suggests he views the October 7th attacks primarily through a partisan lens rather than recognizing the universal horror of terrorism against innocent civilians.
Michigan’s changing demographics have created new political pressures for Democratic candidates, but El-Sayed’s response reveals the moral compromises some politicians make in pursuit of votes. His fundraising email essentially weaponized a terrorist attack anniversary, using it as an opportunity to advance his campaign while ignoring half the victims. This represents exactly the kind of divisive, identity-based politics that many Americans find deeply troubling.
Missing the Moment for Leadership
True leadership requires acknowledging uncomfortable truths and standing up for universal principles, even when politically inconvenient. El-Sayed had an opportunity to demonstrate moral clarity by condemning terrorism while expressing compassion for all victims of the ongoing conflict. Instead, he chose partisan messaging that deliberately excluded Israeli victims, revealing either profound moral blindness or cynical political calculation.
The backlash against El-Sayed’s email underscores how many Americans still expect their political leaders to maintain basic standards of decency and moral consistency. When a candidate cannot bring himself to acknowledge the victims of a terrorist attack because it might complicate his political message, he reveals himself unfit for the serious responsibilities of Senate leadership. This controversy will likely follow El-Sayed throughout his campaign, serving as a reminder of his willingness to exploit tragedy for political gain.
Sources:
El-Sayed calls Oct. 7 fundraising email a mistake
