A good friend of ours Mona Besiso, who lives in the UK, but is originally from Gaza has sent us this message:

My cousin Samar is in Gaza and recently sent me a heart-breaking message about her situation. She doesn’t know where to go as people are being forced from their homes under constant shelling. Even finding shelter is almost impossible, the cost of a tent has risen to $1,000, and you must also pay for the land to put it on. On top of this come the costs of transport and basic needs. She told me that if she has to leave again, she will have to carry everything with her, as she has already lost so much.

Her words were full of fear, despair, and prayers for relief.

Samar is there with her two children, her brother, his wife and their three children aged 11, 10 and 8 years old. They have nowhere to stay, but must leave the city as they are surrounded by bombing and are not safe. A tent now costs something like £800, and transport for one day to leave Gaza City is £600.

Mona is amazing - she works tirelessly to raise awareness and to campaign for change. At our recent 'Marches4Palestine' (M4P) fundraising event in Hereford (£4,200 raised for MAP) she not only led a whole team of volunteers to provide a beautiful Palestinian meal for 200 people, but then also took the stage to make a most moving speech which was a highlight of the evening (see the video below). She exemplifies why Palestinians deserve our utmost respect, and our financial support.

All donations will go to Mona who will be able to send them directly to her cousin. The money will be spent by the family on transport away from the worst of the bombing, on shelter and on food which is now astronomically expensive. Please help Mona to help her family and, even if you are unable to donate to this appeal, please share it as far and widely as you can.

Beyond donating, it is really important that we keep talking about Palestine and increase by every available means our pressure on the UK government: to go beyond empty words and token gestures, and sanction Israel in hard-hitting ways so as to stop the endless bombardments, the targeted killings, the genocide.

If you are not already involved with Herefordshire-based End War on Palestinians (EWP), or with another pro Palestinian action group, please contact us at [email redacted] or on Instagram @endwaronpalestinians or on Facebook www.facebook.com/61579221231684 EndWarOnPalestinians EWP.