Help Mohammed and his family restart their life out of Gaza

Leaving everything behind and moving away is incredibly difficult, but in the midst of the genocide in Gaza, it often feels like the only option.

My name is Mohammed Zaqout, and I am a 29 years’ old Palestinian dentist. I operated my private clinic in the heart of Gaza, where I provided dental treatments with passion and constantly strove to upgrade my skills and knowledge to deliver the best oral health care. I also worked as a lecturer at Al-Azhar University, teaching dental technicians the theoretical aspects of their studies, particularly in dental prosthesis preparation and industry. Additionally, I volunteered at a unique oncology pediatric hospital in the Gaza Strip, specializing in dental care. This hospital was the only place that provided dental treatments for pediatric cancer patients, ensuring their specific health needs were met.

After years of hard work and perseverance, I married the love of my life, Rawan, the most beautiful girl I had ever met, who was a recent medical school graduate who dreamt of becoming a dermatologist. Our happiest day was on September 29th, 2023, and we believed our happiness would last forever. Unfortunately, just one week later, on October 7th, 2023, our lives were shattered by the beginning of the Gaza genocide.

Our honeymoon turned into a nightmare as our lives became increasingly precarious. Our once warm home became cold and unsafe. After a week, on October 13th, 2023, we were forced to leave our home and relocate to southern Gaza in search of safety. This was the worst day in my life until that day. Since then, we have changed shelters eight times.

My house before and after the war, where I spent 4 months in this tent with my wife

After becoming a refugee, life changed on all levels. Every day, we strive to secure the basic necessities of life, such as food, water, and cleaning supplies. The sounds of planes flying overhead constantly remind us of the ever-present threat of death. Homes are no longer homes, streets are no longer streets, and we are no longer the same. What is happening is a complete genocide in every sense of the word, not only of people but also of trees, houses, and animals.

Regarding the effect of the genocide on my career, my private clinic has been heavily damaged, as shown in the photos below that a friend of mine who stayed in Gaza city sent me. Al-Azhar University, where I used to give lectures, has been bombed and destroyed by occupation killing machines. Despite the destruction, I strive to continue my role as an educator by volunteering to record lectures for my students at Al-Azhar University, ensuring that education persists amidst the chaos. Additionally, the only hospital that provided dental treatments for pediatric cancer patients was targeted and raided by occupation soldiers on November 6th, 2023. (The photo above shows part of the destruction before the place was targeted again).

Ultimately, Rawan and I made the heartbreaking decision to leave Gaza in search of a better life and future. As a first step, Rawan traveled to Qatar and stayed with her sister, planning for me to follow once the war subsided and I could ensure my parents' safety and well-being, where they will relocate abroad to stay with my sister.

During this war, my wife, my family, and I had many discussions about what life would be like after the genocide if we survived. I lost all my workplaces, and it became difficult for my wife to find a fair opportunity to join a specialization program within our country. Life would not be easy after the war, in every detail. As a couple, even the thought of having a child became an extremely difficult decision in such circumstances.

So, we decided to leave temporarily to establish a stable family and seek specialization opportunities to return to our country better equipped to serve our community and mitigate the effects of the war on our physical and mental health.

Conclusion

All I want is to live a stable life to build a beautiful family with my wife, so I have decided to leave for Qatar. All I need is to apply for dataflow for my certificates, apply for a prometric exam (Qatar's equation exam), and find a job as general practitioner dentist to find a specialization opportunity later on, and Rawan needs to apply for the IFOM exam (an assessment tool for medical professionals) and the OAT exam (a specialized English exam for medical professionals) to start her specialization journey.

Expenses:

Total = 39,300 $

Note: My name is Bilal Choho, and I have been a friend of Mohammed Zaqout and his family since I taught Computer Science to his sister Hanaa in 2018. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Economics in Paris, France. As Mohammed and his family cannot connect a GoFundMe page to a Middle Eastern bank account, they have asked me to create this page, receive the money on my French bank account, and send it to them. Please message me if you need additional details.