AUSTIN (KXAN) — Iran fired dozens of missiles into Israel on Tuesday. A UT Austin senior is watching what’s unfolding while checking on his family who is dealing firsthand with the missile strikes.
“It was something growing up that I didn’t think was going to happen in my life,” senior Geller said. He asked us to not use his first name. He was born and raised in Israel.
“I talked to my cousin on the phone earlier. It’s sad to say, but a 13-year-old that’s been to a bomb shelter multiple times, and has kind of gotten used to it, it’s a sad reality,” Geller said.
Geller said his family is safe for now, but knows the conflict is far from over.
“You feel helpless. Since we’re over 5,000 miles away, you kind of feel like there’s nothing you can do about it,” Geller added.
UT said there are 54 students abroad in Israel right now, along with at least 61 faculty.
“I’m concerned this is escalating out of control,” UT professor of Public Affairs and History Jeremi Suri said.
“This really has a risk of becoming a larger war between two major states, one of which has nuclear weapons, one of which has a very large army and a lot of allies in the region,” Suri added.
He said the effects are far-reaching, including all the way back to Texas.
“Because of the trade with the region, because of our personal connections, people who are programmers, computer people from Israel and elsewhere and the general safety of the world is something we have to care about,” Suri added.
“Americans need to understand this isn’t just an Israeli war. It’s a war of western civilization,” Geller said.
A pro-Palestinian rally is scheduled for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. on the south lawn on campus. Organizers said it was to “Honor the Martyrs.”