SOS:Saving My Family from the Genocide of Gaza

I am Ahed Abusharekh, who is working and living in Sweden. I would like to keep supporting my family as much as I can. My reflections have led me to a point where the overwhelming necessity of ensuring my family's and my own safety outweighs my capacity to cope.

This is the voice of my youngest brother in Gaza:

My name is Mohannad, and I am in my twenties. I used to work with motorcycles, repairing and selling them. Additionally, I picked up barbering as a hobby through various courses I took. My life with my family was simple, earning just enough for our daily needs, and I loved my work. I dreamt of owning a motorcycle showroom in Gaza one day, but after the devastation we have witnessed, that dream feels like a miracle beyond reach.

Now, I struggle to find shelter for my displaced family, food to sustain us for another day, and medicine for the illnesses that have taken hold due to the dire conditions we endure.

My late brother’s daughter, Fulla, a vibrant five-year-old, had just completed kindergarten and was supposed to start her first year of school. But she was robbed of her education, her sense of safety, and her rights as a child. Once full of life, running and playing, Fulla now lives in fear, her spirit crushed by the overwhelming trauma she has faced. We tried to ease her grief after losing her father so young, but now she is burdened with suffering far beyond her years. She has lost her home, her school, her toys, and even the simple joys of family life and peace.

I will never forget the strength and sacrifice of my mother. She was a pillar of resilience, enduring the harshness and cruelty of our situation for our sake. Despite her constant battle with illness and the severe hardships we faced, she remained our source of strength and hope. Her unwavering courage in the face of such overwhelming adversity is a testament to the depth of her love for us.

My father got injured from a bomb near him when he was in the market, now he is very weak and old, also with his bad condition as a disabled old man. He is humble, a teacher of life, and honest. He raised us with high work ethics to let us live and continue our education.

My brother Hussein, 28 years old, was taking care of my father at home when he was shot in the head by a quadcopter through the window. There were no ambulances or anyone that could reach him, he bled to death next to my father. Hussein was a very cool young man, supportive, honest, and so kind. He was a dreamer and musician.

After the relentless cruelty, destruction, and utter lack of safety we experienced in our home in northern Gaza, we were forced to flee to the south, clinging to the hope of preserving what little remained of our lives. We believed we might be able to continue living, only to find ourselves constantly on the move, fleeing from one danger to another. Our survival was nothing short of a miracle, but it did not guarantee safety—we remain trapped under the looming threat, desperately searching for a way to live in peace.

We are now living in a tent in Jabalia camp with my family, in extremely inhumane conditions. We lack sufficient food, electricity, clean water, and even a proper toilet. No food supplies, prices are getting so high and no liquidity to have cash.

The recent months have been filled with hell and horror and our mental health and lives are in constant danger. We have reached a point where we no longer have any hope of staying in Gaza; we are simply waiting to die. Even if the war stops, the destruction in Gaza cannot be repaired quickly.

To cross the Gaza-Egypt border at Rafah, our names need to be listed on the crossing list (paid permit). However, coordinators in Egypt are currently demanding between $7,000 and $8,000 per person to add us to the list, and they will not do so until we prove we have the money ready.

I humbly ask for your help in getting my family out of this nightmare. I deeply appreciate any donation, no matter how small, as it will significantly contribute to alleviating our suffering. I also kindly ask you to share my campaign with your family and friends to help us reach our goal as quickly as possible, as every second is a threat to our lives in Gaza. I will be eternally grateful for your assistance during this difficult time.

My only hope is that the border from Gaza to Egypt at Rafah will open soon. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for standing with us in solidarity during this challenging time and for positively impacting the lives of those affected. Your donations are a ray of light in this darkness and will help us save our family.

Unfortunately, we can't send money directly to Gaza right now. So I'll transfer the money to my account first, and then send it over to my sister Kholoud in Egypt. She'll handle getting it to the travel agency once the border reopens.