Solidarity with Gaza

A message from Karim:

The last nineteen months have been an emotional roller coaster for me, with all the feelings of guilt, helplessness, anger, and frustration that cannot be compressed and conveyed in words, let alone a few paragraphs. These emotions pale in comparison to what Gazans have endured and continue to endure, generation after generation. Today, besieged, starved, and under continuous bombardment—confronted, once more, by an impossible choice that lies somewhere between the sadism of total annihilation and the hopelessness of permanent expulsion—they have shown us that it is possible for a people to confront genocide with quiet dignity, resolute courage, and boundless compassion.

In lieu of a registry, Sara and I will be establishing a GoFundMe page to raise funds for charities which are working effectively on the ground in Gaza to provide much-needed shelter, food, essential medical services, basic infrastructure, and everything in between. We have listed below those which we intend to channel funds to, with a brief description of their activities and links to their websites.

A little will go a long way, and of course feel free to donate anonymously. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for all the support and love you are able to show during these dark days and in the face of unimaginable tragedy. With love and respect.

1. Medical Aid for Palestinians - https://www.map.org.uk/ - A UK-registered charity focusing on among other things providing immediate medical aid and essential health services, addressing malnutrition, and supporting rehabilitation services for the disabled

2. HEAL Palestine - https://www.healpalestine.org/ - A US-registered 501(c)(3) charity founded in response to the overwhelming devastation of Gaza. It primarily focuses on Palestinian children and their families, delivering aid, funding life-saving surgeries, building shelters, organizing fun days for displaced children, and running kitchens and food distribution centers

3. Sa7ten (“Sahtein” or something close to bon apetit in Arabic) - https://www.sa7ten.org/ - Founded by my friend Omar, (please say hi to him at the wedding if you get the chance; he deserves a fist bump), it started as a grassroots initiative amongst the Palestinian diaspora in Paris and has grown with the organic involvement of community volunteers in Gaza, supporting community kitchens, distributing clothes and essential baby care, and rebuilding some of Gaza’s social infrastructure

4. Gaza Soup Kitchen - https://gazasoupkitchen.com/ - A soup kitchen founded by a friend’s brother and his family in Northern Gaza and run by volunteers. With some pots, firewood, and basic ingredients, they were able to feed 120 people on their first day. Today, they are feeding over 3,000 people daily, including entire families who haven’t had a warm meal in days. The founder, Mahmoud, was murdered in November 2024 by an Israeli drone 30 yards from where his children were sheltering

5. Ajyal - https://ajyalfoundation.org/index.html - A UK-registered charity focused on providing emergency support to Gaza’s children, with additional, long-term goals of supporting their mental welfare and rehabilitation. Its work involves among other things providing urgent essentials for children and their families, ranging from food parcels, jackets, and warm clothing to hygiene kits for women and girls as well as mattresses, blankets, and pillows