Aziz and I met through social media and he quickly became my little brother I never had. Aziz and I talk every day - we video chat and he takes me to the market, shows me the beach (from a far, because Palestinians are forbidden to go in), and we dream together, hopeful of what is next after the war ends. Although I have witnessed the harsh conditions that Aziz and his family are surviving in, he almost always shows up smiling, asking to see his favorite cat (Sage) and our flowers. I have trust that one day, we will sit in the garden together and enjoy Maqluba together amongst the flowers.

Direct message from Aziz:

Hello,

I'm Aziz, a 20-year-old young man from Gaza. I'm the youngest in my family, and I've always been known as cultured and ambitious. After graduating from high school with excellent grades, my dream of enrolling in the Faculty of Engineering at Al-Azhar University came true. I was proud, and my family was proud of me.

But the war came suddenly and destroyed everything. Our home was destroyed, my university dreams were shattered, and we lost our only source of income.

My family consists of eight members:

* My father, Othman, lost his job and was our breadwinner.

* My mother, Aya, suffers from high blood pressure and chronic illnesses such as irritable bowel syndrome, and cannot endure the harsh conditions.

* My older brother, Diaa, also lost his job.

* My brother, Mohammed, and his wife live with us now after losing their source of income.

* My brother, Ahmed, was previously unemployed.

* My sister, Rana, helps my mother with housework and relied on us for sustenance.

We live today in tragic circumstances:

* We have been displaced from our home several times, seeking safety in places where aid cannot reach us.

* We can only find food at exorbitant prices.

* We suffer from a scarcity of clean water and a lack of healthcare.

* Hospitals cannot accommodate patients, and medications are in short supply.

* We have no income or ability to secure the basic necessities of life.

Every day we face fear, hunger, pain, and anxiety for my parents, who can no longer endure this life.

My sister living in the United States created this link to help us. We ask you, every person with a heart, to lend us a helping hand, even if it's just a small amount. Your donation could be food for a child, medicine for my mother, or a warm shelter for us.

Every bit of help means so much to us, and every word of support brings hope to our hearts.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

May God bless you and reward you abundantly.