NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. — Local members of the Muslim community held a fundraiser Sunday for humanitarian aid in Gaza to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan.
The fundraiser was hosted by the Human Development Fund and held at the Susquehanna Club in New Cumberland.
Organizers say holding the fundraiser during Ramadan keeps with the themes of the month of fasting.
"Ramadan is a time for sharing and giving to the ones that need it the most," said organizer Adam Rahman. "This is the best time to do it."
The conflict in Gaza has raged on since Oct. 7 of last year, when Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israeli civilians, killing around 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 people hostage.
Israel’s subsequent attacks and invasion of Gaza has left more than 30,000 Palestinians dead, according to Gaza's health ministry, which is controlled by Hamas.
Rahman says regardless of where people may fall on the issue, they should not ignore the humanitarian plight of civilians in the middle of war.
"We're believers in God, and any human being needs to be taken care of, whether he's not someone of your people or even if he's an enemy," Rahman said. "What would Jesus do in this situation? That's what I would do, is help the human being."
The group hoped to raise upwards of $50,000 for humanitarian aid.