Tldr; My friend Moaz in Palestine asked me to start a GoFundMe for him because donations are the only way he can live - to buy food, or to exit Gaza. We have been video calling for almost the past two years. His old gofundme got shut down.

Hi, I'm Yiann! I live in the Bay Area, California. I started video calling Moaz Shamalk after several folks from Palestine messaged my friend and I on instagram, and we wanted to get to know folks and video call before sending money - so we started calling Moaz.

Just this week (April 12), my friend funded him, his mother and sister to leave and enter Egypt. Moaz was the only one turned away at the border, though his mom and sister made it out. This is probably the fifth time we have tried to fund an exit for him - often we fail, but more and more of his family has been able to leave. I feel like we are close to getting Moaz out.

Moaz is very open hearted and earnest. Before the g---, he was a farmer and would grow grapes and vegetables with his family. He also went to nursing school - in fact, he still goes to the hospital most weeks to help folks and practice his studies. Mis family has been through a lot and they are hungry often, and have to move often. Many of his family were killed from bombings. Every kind word and voice message and video call means a lot to him.

It's been really good to support moaz with many other people at once, instead of all alone. Some of you have already been a part of that.

A year ago, I wrote this in an email: "My dream is that together, you and I can support Moaz's family until they realize their hope to make it out of gaza and live life without threat. I'm happy that most of his family has made it out." It has felt like a long journey, of dread and wondering if he and his family would survive. I am overjoyed his mother and sister made it out. I want to see the day that he does, too.

You can also donate to Moaz via paypal [email redacted]

OR

Venmo me @xiao-an and write "Moaz" in the description

His paypal is currently linked to his bank account in Gaza and I usually just send there.