Help Abdelrahman Evacuate Gaza and Continue His Education

I am organizing this fundraiser to help my friend Abdelrahman Abu Shawish secure safe passage out of Gaza and continue his medical education in the UK.

Abdelrahman is a 26-year-old doctor from Gaza, Palestine. Two years ago, he graduated from Al-Azhar University with dreams of practicing medicine. However, since October 7th, he has faced unimaginable challenges. His home was bombed and destroyed on November 24th, 2023, and many of his family members were killed. He has been displaced multiple times and is currently residing in Al-Nuseirat Refugee Camp in the middle area of Gaza.

Despite these hardships, he has dedicated himself to helping others at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir el-Balah and as a general practitioner with UNRWA in UN shelters. You can read more about his story in an Al Jazeera report here: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/19/giving-up-is-not-an-option-volunteer-doctors-at-al-aqsa-martyrs-hospital?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1fNYPvy1ApC6BDdlRGcigt2ZZv1lDc67rTH0uxsF18saf7PWMnMXEQ7jQ_aem_XSBRUmmj-Y-GC0C9k1Gb1g

We are deeply grateful for any financial support during this critical time of need. Please share our campaign to raise awareness.

HOW WILL THE MONEY BE USED?

Our goal is to raise funds to ensure that Abdelrahman can evacuate Gaza and continue his medical education in the UK. The estimated costs include $5,000 in fees to the Egyptian-state affiliated company Hala to leave Gaza through the Egyptian border, $5,000 in travel expenses to the UK, and $15,000 for a medical accreditation in the UK, totaling $25,000.

HOW WILL THE MONEY GET TO ABDELRAHMAN?

The funds will be transferred first to Abdelrahman’s brother, Mahmoud Abu Shawish, in Egypt where he can facilitate payment of the fees for Abdelrahman to cross from Rafah into Egypt. Remaining funds will either be managed by Mahmoud or transferred to Abdelrahman, so he can move to the UK and continue his education. Supporters will be updated on all transfers and transactions.

A NOTE FROM ELIZABETH:

My name is Elizabeth Layfield, and I work for a global health NGO in Washington DC. After October, I was looking for ways to directly support Palestinians in Gaza and became connected to Gaza Champions (https://www.championgaza.xyz/), an initiative that matches a family or individual in Gaza with volunteers/allies who can champion their Gofundme campaign and provide support. It was through the Gaza Champions network that I was introduced to Abdelrahman. I am amazed by his selfless work healing others, especially during this time of great suffering, and I hope we can all pull together to give him hope for a better future.

Life with family before the the current aggression

Graduation from Al-Azhar University

Working as a volunteer doctor in the surgery department of Al-Aqsa Hospital

Sitting on the remains of his house after an Israeli airstrike. Abdelrahman found out while working the night shift at the hospital and came home without changing out of his scrubs.

His graduation certificate found in the rubble