ORLANDO, Fla. — One issue that will factor into voters’ decision in the November election is the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. 

The war started on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people.

A wall of cars burned in the attacks are now piled up here in a memorial to the lives lost.

They can be seen in video Ron Ben-Zeev captured over the summer when he went back to visit Israel.

“It’s horrific, it’s just a tragedy on so many levels,” said Ben-Zeev, who was born in Israel.

An Israeli and U.S. citizen, Ben-Zeev has lived in the U.S. for many years and says to understand Israel’s response, one must realize the magnitude of the attacks on his home country.

“I think someone had done the math and it would’ve been like 20-plus or 30,000 Americans murdered in one day by a terrorist organization,” said Ben-Zeev. “So how would we, as Americans, think about that?”

The Gaza Health Ministry says Israel’s counter attacks have killed more than 40,000 Palestinians. Ben-Zeev has seen the pro-Palestinian protests in the U.S., and the pressure on U.S. Leaders to take action to stop the killing.

“As bad as it seems, Israel has really been extremely careful," he said. "But it’s war — there will be collateral damage, there will be casualties and it will be horrific. But we did not start it, Israel did not start it. It responded.”

Nadia Ahmad, a Pakistani-American born in Orlando, says the loss of life in Israel’s counter strikes since the attacks prompted her to speak out for Palestinians. 

“Not just as a human, but as a mother — I have three little kids," she said. "And so to see those images as a mother just hits you in a different way, and there’s a sense of hopelessness with it."

Ahmad said she wants U.S. leaders to demand a ceasefire, and stop supplying military weapons to Israel. But she said her activism was met with violence at the Democratic National Convention in August. She says when she raised a sign saying “Stop Arming Israel” someone hit her over the head with political signs. 

“The Democratic party doesn’t care how many people are dead, they don’t care about that," Ahmad said. "But they should care that this is going to stand between them and the White House — and is that worth it for them?"

Ahmad said the money the U.S. is spending to support Israel should be spent elsewhere.

“That money could be spent much better at home in the united states for health care, education,” she said.

Ahmad said she is frustrated that neither party is doing more to achieve a ceasefire.

Ben-Zeev believes the U.S. presidential election could have some influence on how Israel moves forward.

“I think the political turmoil in the U.S. has an impact on some of the decisions,” he said.

He said he’ll support American candidates who support the Israeli citizens’ calls for change, and that a majority of people in Israel believe the best chance for a path to peace lies in a new leader.

“Ultimately, it’s up to the Israelis," Ben-Zeev said. "The Israelis will dictate who they vote for, and right now, more than two-thirds have said the current prime minister needs to go out."

For now, Ben-Zeev said he wants the Israeli hostages back home.

“On the ground is ugly, but it needs to stop,” said Ben-Zeev. “The hostages need to come home and we need to figure out how to deal with it.”