Help Hassan’s family from Gaza rebuild their lives

Hassan Alalami needs your support. Hassan’s family is trapped in the Gaza Strip enduring unfathomably horrific conditions of a brutal war. They have endured numerous wars and aggressions in the past, but this latest war is the most devastating of all. They had to flee their home suddenly with little more than the clothes on their backs and some school books, and have relocated multiple times to escape dangerous conditions. Many of Hassan’s family members, friends, teachers and mentors have been killed, and their beloved family home, with all of its memories and possessions, has been obliterated.

Below Hassan provides more details about his and his family’s background and their struggle of hard work, resilience and determination, which has been all but destroyed. Thank you for your generosity.

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Hassan Alalami, 21 years of resilience, a Palestinian young man who's proud of his identity. I'm passionate about medical and life sciences, and I admire football. I'm always aware and knowledgeable of history and politics, yet I'm not a big fan of politicians. I want to be part of positive change as a future health professional, and I believes there's always something we can do. I had the chance to represent Palestine in the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program, for which I spent an academic exchange year in California, USA. (See

YES feature story and YES additional feature story). Currently, I'm studying medicine at the University of Pécs Medical School as part of the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship after I had obtained a diploma of Emergency Nursing from UN Khan Younis Training College (KYTC) in Gaza for which I worked in the emergency department of Alshifa hospital during the escalation of 2022 as an intern. I always seek to spread awareness and reveal the untold stories about Palestine that's why I'm part of We Are Not Numbers initiative as a writer (See published article). I dream of a world of equality, freedom, and human dignity.

Coming into existence within the confines of the largest open-air prison where you don't have the privilege of having the most basic of human needs and with all the struggles and trauma it entails, you're still obliged to work tirelessly in the pursuit of a more promising future. The harsh truth is that, without exaggeration, everything can be lost in the blink of an eye, where you find yourself having to rise again from the ashes.

From an early age, our parents instilled in us the significance of education and cultivated a strong sense of self-reliance. My elder brother, aged 22, is in the final year of pursuing a degree in Computer Science. Likewise, my younger sister, aged 20, is a year away from completing her dual bachelor's degrees in Journalism and Islamic Studies. Meanwhile, my 15-year-old younger brother is currently in the 10th grade and actively engaged in Horizons Academy. Additionally, our youngest sibling, a 5-year-old, is enthusiastically attending the Australian Modern Kindergarten in Gaza City, enjoying her early educational experiences.

In the early 2000s, my father devoted all his effort and financial resources to constructing a home for our family in the eastern part of Gaza City, near the border on my grandmother’s land, less than 1km away from the fence. After years of living in rental accommodations since the birth of my siblings and me, we sought stability and the comfort of our own home. Unfortunately, in 2008, before we could even move into the house, the first Gaza War (known as Operation Cast Lead) resulted in the destruction of our home.

This marked the beginning of a childhood characterized by displacement and instability that had a huge impact on my siblings and me growing up.

Despite the challenges, we eventually managed to rebuild and return to our home. However, this was short-lived, as the 2012 escalation caused damage to our home. Fortunately, we were able to repair the damage and return shortly after. In 2014, another war erupted, resulting in the complete destruction of our home in what would become known as the Shujaiyya massacre, named after the neighborhood. Undeterred, we were determined to rebuild, and it took three years of constant movement from one place to another before we finally returned in 2017.

During the countless escalations that necessitated fleeing our home, our refuge has often been my maternal grandparents' place in the center of Gaza City, near Al-Shifa Hospital. We sought solace in the hope that this location would be relatively safer and somewhat distant from the volatile borders. Recognizing the need for a more secure alternative, my father took the responsibility to purchase an apartment in the western part of Gaza City, which he successfully managed after years, despite the many financial burdens. The construction of this apartment was progressing well until October 7th.

On that day, my family once again had to abandon our home in the eastern part of Gaza City, leaving behind everything except what could be carried in their packed bags. With the ground invasion intensifying daily, they were forced to move multiple times fearing for their lives before finally escaping death to the southern part of the Gaza Strip, where they currently are alongside extended family members and other displaced families, after they have had 12 km torturous walk where the have witnessed the most traumatizing scenes of people killed on the side of the road and children's bodies torn into pieces. The magnitude of grief, pain, and suffering is immense. Although, my family and I have experienced the worst of each and every war in Gaza, yet my brother tells me that this is nothing like before.

Our residence in the eastern part of Gaza City stood no chance against the relentless onslaught as the area near the border was declared a no-go zone, and given the fact that this part of the city, along with the northern part of the Gaza strip, is gradually transforming into a wasteland due to the ceaseless barrage of airstrikes and artillery shelling. In addition to the fact that our home has already suffered complete destruction on two separate occasions and endured partial damage in the previous wars. Thus, It was no surprise to us that it's been destroyed this time yet again as it has barely managed to escape harm during various other minor escalations over the years. Additionally, our unfinished apartment in the western part of Gaza, situated near Al-Rasheed Street along the Mediterranean coast, has been damaged.

(See Occupation tanks on Al-Rasheed Street)

We lost our home and what was supposed to become our safe haven at such times of war and violence. Unfortunately, my father's dream of a home crumbled against the war machine. A dream that started with the creation of our family 23 years ago which drained all his life savings and more leaving the family with nothing but what they could carry on the backs south, and it's impossible to go back there and try to recover any belongings that could be left for it's not only dangerous but also declared to be a no-go zone.

The conditions have become unbearable and dehumanizing to say the least, leaving the family to endure several days without essential provisions like proper food, water, internet, and medical assistance. We've already lost several family members of our Alalami family. Some who were targeted by airstrikes and others who've been entrapped and were killed on their way South trying to flee Gaza. It’s unknown for how long this humanitarian crisis will continue and for how long my family will be able to survive. Your support is crucial for them to recover from this tragedy. Your solidarity is genuinely appreciated.

Contributions will enable my family to afford essential necessities such as food, water, clothes as winter is coming, and medications for my grandparents for the time being. Additionally, the funds will provide support to eight other families displaced with them. When this brutal war is over, I hope that the financial assistance will aid the family in recovering from the impact, trying to rebuild our home, and start their lives from the ashes.

We sincerely appreciate your gracious support and generosity.