Czuba appeared in court on Monday for his arraignment and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The incident occurred in Plainfield Township, located about 40 miles southwest of Chicago. The Will County Sheriff's Office stated that Wadea was stabbed 26 times with a military-style knife, while his mother suffered multiple stab wounds.

Prosecutors allege that Czuba deliberately targeted the victims due to their Muslim faith and as a response to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The Department of Justice has also launched a federal investigation into Al-Fayoume's death.

During the arraignment, Czuba's attorney, George Lenard, entered the plea on his behalf, and Czuba, wearing a red jail uniform, remained silent. Lenard has consistently declined to comment on the case outside of the courtroom.

The indictment filed against Czuba by an Illinois grand jury includes eight counts, such as first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and hate crimes. The murder charge describes Wadea's death as the result of "exceptionally brutal or heinous behavior."

Hanaan Shahin, the mother of the young victim, had informed the police that Czuba attacked them after she had urged him to "pray for peace" in regards to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Shahin, who is of Palestinian descent, is currently in the process of recovering from her injuries.

The tragedy has prompted a wave of support and solidarity from the community, with hundreds of people attending Wadea's funeral on October 16. Shahin, through the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, issued a statement asking the public to "pray for peace" and described her son as her best friend.

This disturbing incident is part of a larger trend of rising hostility towards Muslim and Jewish communities in the United States since the conflict between Israel and Hamas escalated. The attack has further highlighted the urgent need for understanding and dialogue to bridge the divides between different religious and cultural groups.