Escape the Gaza Genocide: Help the Abdalilah Family Flee

After months of war, displacement, genocide, and deprivation in Gaza, the killing of 28-year-old Ahmed Abdalilah’s brother – Mohammed (30) – in one of Israel’s thousands and ongoing bombing attacks has forced his family to attempt to flee their homeland to seek safety across the border in Egypt.

Mohammed leaves behind his new-born baby, Ward, born to Zainab and Mohammed beneath the bombs in November, as well as Imad, their beloved three-year-old.

Mohammed was Ahmed’s second family member to be killed in the ongoing genocide, following the killing of his brother-in-law, Ahmed (34), in October.

Like many in Gaza, the Abdalilah family have been displaced six times. Ahmed’s older brother, Waseem, was injured by Israeli fire when he risked returning home for a couple of nights, desperate to return to his own bed, after which he required surgery.

Waseem’s bed now ceases to exist. The family home, pictured here with Ahmed, has since been completely destroyed in a bombing.

It is time for those that remain to flee.

In times of war, the price of evacuating to safety is extortionate, costing $5000 for adults, and $2500 for those below the age of sixteen to simply cross the Rafah border into Egypt. Ahmed is hoping to evacuate 12 adults, and 11 children in his family, whom he introduces you to below, and to raise a small amount for the cost of rent and food upon arrival into Egypt.

We* are therefore launching an urgent fundraiser to aid Ahmed and his family in getting the necessary paperwork done so that they can cross the Rafah border, and ensure safe passage into Egypt. In order for the family to flee, I will, in the first instance, transfer money to Ahmed’s cousin, Mohammed Abdalkareem Al-Abadla, already in Egypt, and subsequently to Ahmed Abdalilah himself, once he has been able to evacuate and can then process the paperwork for each family member as funds are raised. Funds include:

1. $5000 USD (£4015 GBP) to Egyptian intermediaries for 12 family members over the age of 16 to cross the Rafah border into Egypt (totalling $60,000 USD/ £48,200 GBP).

2. $2500 (£2010 GBP) to Egyptian intermediaries for 11 family members below the age of 16 to cross the Rafah border into Egypt (totalling $27,500 USD/ £22,100 GBP).

3. £5000 GBP for aid, assistance and rent upon arrival in Egypt.

4. £9700 to cover transfer fees, donation fees and the possibility of fluctuating costs in times of war.

Any additional funds raised will be distributed to other families fleeing Gaza.

CALL TO ACTION:

1. Please donate whatever you can. Every contribution, no matter the amount will help.

2. Please share this campaign with everyone you know, and urge them to donate and share.

AHMED’S STORY

I’m Ahmed, an English teacher and a writer. I love life, I love my family, I love to learn, to explore, and meet new people.

I always wanted to be a storyteller.

But I never wanted to tell this story.

In the midst of war, my family and I have been grappling with the relentless chaos and violence that has engulfed our lives. Each day presents a new struggle for survival, a battle against hunger, fear, and despair. As we navigate through the horrors of war, we hang to the hope of a better tomorrow, a future where peace and security exist.

From the onset of the genocide, our world was turned upside down. Forced to flee our home on the first day of the war, we found ourselves scattered, separated from each other, seeking refuge in the homes of distant relatives. Once familiar streets now echoed with the sounds of gunfire and bombs, and we were desperate to stay together amidst the chaos.

As the war intensified, and Israeli forces pushed deeper into the south, we were left with no choice but to seek shelter in makeshift tents. Life in the tents brought its own set of challenges - the constant fear of bombings, the struggle to find enough food to sustain ourselves, and the overwhelming sense of despair that threatened to suffocate us.

Amidst the ongoing trauma, tragedy struck our family with devastating force at the end of March. My brother, innocent, and civilian, fell victim to a senseless bombing, leaving us shattered and grief-stricken. His loss serves as a stark reminder of the unforgiving brutality of war, a reminder that no one is spared from its indiscriminate wrath.

With each passing day, our resolve weakens, our spirits crushed under the weight of relentless suffering. The borders sealed shut, escape from this war-torn land remains a fantasy, a distant hope that grows more fleeting with each passing moment.

Before this war, in August 2023, I had returned to Gaza to see my family after three years abroad, learning about freedom and liberty. I have since lost the vision of liberty I used to hold.

Yet, I still dream – I dream now simply of safety for my remaining family – and hold this like a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness.

Meet my family:

Mother: A retired midwife who is 64 years old. She brings calmness and ease to those around her.

Older Sister: Shams, 35 years old, a school principal and a dedicated mother of three. Her husband, Khalil, is a 34-year-old biology teacher.

Sister-in-law: Zainab, 23 years old, recently graduated with a bachelor's degree in physiotherapy. She is a mother of two and has her mother's support.

Noura, 32 years old, a researcher in Islamic sciences and a caring mother of two sons, Khattab and Hamza. She is married to Diaa.

Doaa, 30 years old, a nurturing mother of four children.

Tareq, 34 years old, a skilled Computer Engineer and a father of two. His wife's name is Ayaa.

Waseem, 33 years old.

Let’s do all we can to help Ahmed and his family flee to safety: Share, donate and repeat, and I will keep you updated on their journey.

*My name is Dr. Chloe Skinner, and I am a researcher from the UK, and we are now a growing fundraising team to meet this huge goal. I first came to know Ahmed through my work, but we have since become dear friends, talking daily, laughing, crying, and 'digitally hugging' at every possible moment.

It breaks my heart that - broken and bleeding - Ahmed's family have been forced to leave their home, now destroyed and uninhabitable.

We can never bring Mohammed or Ahmed back, but we can, at least, help their family flee the genocide.