My name is Giselle Ruemke-Leigh, I live in Victoria BC, and I am raising funds for a friend and humanitarian aid worker, Abdul Hadi Ahmed, and his wife Islam Mohamed Sheikh and family to be able to survive the harsh conditions they are being subjected to, and when possible, possibly evacuate from Rafah, which is currently under siege right now from Israel. Hadi, at 43 years of age has lived under Israeli occupation in Gaza his whole life. He has a wife and four children, the youngest of which is not yet a year old. Hadi's mother has been battling cancer and had to leave their family in Gaza to access treatment in Egypt, with Hadi's sister. Despite living under conditions of hardship himself, Hadi has worked tirelessly to bring food and aid to those in need through his organization, "Save Gaza."

I am asking for your assistance in helping this family to survive the siege on Gaza, and hopefully one day evacuate to safety. Israel has forced over 1.5 million people into Rafah, which is now destroyed. The family has been displaced sevevral times, and are now in Al-Mawasi Camp ion Khan Younis, where conditions are very bad. There is not enough food or water, there is only one small clinic that is utterly overwhelmed, and it is very cold there. People are not only dying of their injuries from the attacks, they are dying of hunger and cold.

In early 2024 Safebow, an organization assisting Gazans across the Egyptian border, reported that is that it is currently costing $8,000 USD per person to evacuate from Rafah to Egypt, which is absolutely crazy, and yet this is the case. Back in November, people were asked to pay $4,000 but they have increased the price under the current circumstances. Here are two sources where this information is verified: https://www.safebowgazanaid.com/take-action-now https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/23/palestinians-paying-thousands-of-dollars-in-bribes-to-leave-gaza

Hadi hoped he could get the family across for 25,000 USD and I have adjusted the target amount accordingly, but he has not been able to connect yet with a worker to star the process of getting them across, even when the border opens, and I have adjusted the goal amount to $50,000, given they have had to use some of the funds for survival, and to purchase food, medicine, water, a tent, and supplies. Hadi has a paypal account and I will be able to get funds to him that way. There is very little food available for purchase there and what is available is often twice or three times the price it usually is.

Regardless, there is no safety left in Gaza whatsoever, so they have no choice but to do their best to get as many family members to safety as possible. Hadi and his family are currently very vulnerable, living in tents without enough to eat or drink, and with Israel threatening more and more attacks on innocent civilians.

Please donate what you can to help this beautiful family to safety. Even small amounts can add up to a lot. I will be updating the page as more information becomes available. Meanwhile, please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Thank you so much,

Giselle Ruemke-Leigh

❤️

UPDATE: Hadi has uploaded a video of the current circumstances in Khan Younis where they had to move to. It is extremely hot, there is not enough food and very little sanitation, there are ongoing attacks in the region, and it is very stressful on them mentally and emotionally as well as physically. I read a recent statistic that 95% of the water there is contaminated, and many people are getting sick. Let's please continue to raise funds and get this family to safety as soon as possible. Please donate again, as much as you can afford, remember that even just small amounts can help, and it is very helpful also to share, so that this will reach others. Thank you all. ❤️✨️✌️

https://www.facebook.com/100070037034619/posts/pfbid02nXdwMt9Yk8HufoMypqfcXYeqxJvCkfc1MNWmXpYU9CAsSwsHWao7SWAsayaWPm5hl/?app=fbl

UPDATE: Hadi and his family are hanging in there, they are living under inadequate conditions still, just in cold tents and without enough blankets, food and water. The situation is affecting their mental health quite a bit of course, with all the noise and planes flying over all the time, not knowing where Israel will strike next, or when. They have trouble accessing the internet a bit as well but I have daily contact with him still for the most part. They are just surviving as best they are able. They very much appreciate your support!

UPDATE #2: Hadi has updated me that the coordinator handling their evacuation has told them it will be $5000 per person. h

His brothers and mother have decided not to evacuate at this time, so we are currently only fundraising for Hadi, his wife, and three children.

They are so grateful for everyone who has shared or donated so far. Please keep sharing and donating, let's see this family safe! Thank you ❤️

Update #3: Thank you everyone so much, for your generous donations! The family has had to move their area where they were staying, in the hopes of finding more safety there, but they are still in Rafah as therr really isn't anywhere else they can go at this point. I did hear from Hadi yesterday and he talked about hoping for a new life, perhaps in a European country, if not Canada. So they are hanging in there, and hoping every day for a Cease Fire and to be able to evacuate as soon as possible. Thanks again everyone! Please continue to share this campaign, and donate if you are able. Even small amounts can add up to a lot, and together I know we can help this family get to safety! ❤️

Update #4

I have been speaking with Hadi daily. They are amazingly strong and celebrating Ramadan, despite the circumstances. They are trying to be patient, and trying to have faith as there are planes flying overhead constantly, and they can hear it when there are bombs hitting the area in the distance. Food availability in the market is decreasing, and it costs three times the normal price these days. Please think of Hadi and his family at this time. If you would want to share your meal with them, please consider making a donation if you haven't already. Hadi and his family thank you for your care and support. Please continue to share this campaign. Thank you and Ramadan Kareem.

UPDATE #5: Today is the 76th anniversary of the Nakhba, and as we can clearly see, the Nakhba has never ended. Since my last update, Israel has proceeded with a ground invasion into Rafah, and we have seen more horrors as mass graves have been uncovered by several hospitals, and more and more attacks launched upon the civilians of Gaza. Even people in the West Bank have faced violent attacks from settlers, which the IOF have done nothing to stop.

In this past month, we've seen the "BDS" (Boycott, Divest, and Sanction) movement pick up speed and strength, with significant profit losses for corporations invested in Israel's war machine. We are witnessing a passionate and powerful uprising of students across the globe, calling for an end to this siege upon Gaza. May they be successful, and let's do everything we can to support these brave young people who are risking their necks and their academic careers, to save the lives of Gazans. We've seen how their efforts have paid off, for several schools have agreed to their demands to dislose and divest their investments in arms manufacturers for Israel, etc. We've seen a US Army Major resign from his involvement in the US Defence Intelligence Agency, due to the US government's "unqualified support" for Israel's war on Gaza, and today, Presidential appointee Lily Greenberg Call, who is Jewish, has also resigned in protest of the Biden Administration's refusal to help stop Israel's assault on Gaza. These are encouraging signs that the times may be a-changing.

A little over a week ago, the IOF evacuated people from Eastern Rafah, and people had to scramble to the "safe" areas in the Western part, which was already quite full of families living in refugee tents.

My last message from Hadi on May 6th was telling me how much more crowded it was now, with everyone moving into the same area. He didn't tell me which specific area it was, only that it was in the Western part of Rafah.

Now the IOF have told everyone to evacuate Rafah completely, and to go to Khan Younis, to be "safe." But we all know there is no "safe place" in Gaza. The IOF have been attacking the Jabalia Refugee Camp, where people have been living in the same type of tents Hadi and his family have been living in.

Those that were in Rafah now have no internet, and little food, water, and medicine. It is likely that Hadi has not been able to charge his phone or access the internet during this most recent evacuation, and I am praying that he and his family are okay, that they are together, and that the strength of the Palestinian spirit, built on 76 years of survival of this violent and oppressive occupation, is carrying them through this.

Although we haven't heard from Hadi in a little over a week now, and there is of course much cause for worry, there are plenty of reasons why he could be out of touch. Several Palestinian journalists have also been out of touch, including Bisan, who recently got back into contact after moving to a different area.

Despite the uncertainty of the situation, and all the fears around Hadi and his family's well being, I am personally committed to continuing to raise funds for him and his family to evacuate. My hope is that we will raise enough to help them get set up in their new home when they are able to leave Gaza, as there will be funds needed for that as well.

I'd like to remind everyone that GoFundMe donations are guaranteed, and will be refunded if something is not right. Please don't hestitate to get in touch with me if you have any questions at all about your donation, the latest news about Hadi, the fund, anything. I assure you all funds are secure and reserved for hadi and his family's safe evacuation.

We must meanwhile all continue to do everything we can to end this siege on Gaza and I urge everyone to please call their leaders and demand that they open the crossings, that they stop sending arms and funds to Israel, that they ensure food, aid and medical supplies will get in to Gaza, and that they push for a permanent cease fire.

Please continue to share this campaign, and if you can, to continue to donate as able. I thank you personally, and on Hadi and his family's behalf, for your support. Despite still as yet falling short of the funding goal, it has brought Hadi a lot of hope to receive such support. Please consider writing him a message of encouragement, along with your donation. Let's continue to keep him and his family in our minds and hearts, and in our prayers. Thank you!

UPDATE:

My apologies, friends, for my lateness in updating you all. It is December 15, 2025, and I am happy to share that Abdel Hadi and his family have managed to survive the genocide so far, which is truly a testament to their strength and resilience as a family, and as people of Palestine.

However, the circumstances are wearing on them heavily. Hadi and his family have continued to bear the burdens and strain of this occupation and of the ongoing attacks on their people. The "cease fire" has not actually really happened, as there are still attacks occurring regularly, and death is all around. Safety is not guaranteed, and there is no real safe place in Gaza.

There are still severe food shortages, and the food that is available is of very poor quality, with very little fresh and healthy items, leading to malnutrition. Most food is canned or powdered, and it is difficult to access clean water as well, which is causing dehydration. The flooding has also caused their latrines to rupture, and there is sewage flowing through the camps, and even through their tents. All of this, along with the chronic exposure to cold, and the way that unrelenting stress can impact immunity, is leading to more illnesses, and they are struggling.

Winter has come, and with it, torrential rains that caused their tent to collapse. All their belongings became soaked through, and their little son has struggled with his health. Hadi wrote to me that absolutely all of his clothing is soaked through, he has nothing dry left. He has repaired their tent, but it really is just a tent made of tarps and two by fours, which is not intended for long term habitation. It is cold and wet, and all they have is each other, and their neighbours, who are also struggling under the same conditions. Would it be possible to say, that they also have us? Could each of us reach out a supportive hand to them, across the arbitrary, circumstantial delineations of our lands and nations, and reach them, human to human? It really would not take so much to do so, even very small donations can add up to enough to help them through this, when we all stand together, despite our differences and geographical locations.

Will you join me in sending them a donation, whatever you can afford? Along with some words of encouragement, and your best thoughts, wishes and prayers for them? And lastly, friends, will you please share this, so that others may also extend a lifeline of support?

Thank you so much for reading this, and for caring. It means more than you can imagine. <3