Hello, my name is Florence, I am a 27 year old student in Santa Cruz, CA. I am making this fundraiser on behalf of Mohamed. I have been talking to his brother-in-law, Mohanad, for over 5 months now and we have become good friends. Recently, Mohanad asked me to make a donation link for his wife's brother, Mohamed, because he cannot make it himself as a Palestinian person living in occupied Palestine. I have been able to get the funds already raised to Mohamed through Western Union.

The first goal of this fundraiser is to help buy medicine for Mohamed's mother, she is very ill, her chronic anemia has worsened due to lack of nutritious food and the many other stressors in occupied Gaza. Their second goal is to evacuate when the borders reopen.

Here is his story:

Hello,

"I am Mohamed Shamia from Gaza.

I am 23 years old and live under the shadow of war, fear, and destruction.

We have been living in siege for more than a year. There are no words to describe what we are experiencing. I have lived through near death several times, I do not know how I escape death each time.

Before October 7th, 2023, I had graduated from university with a high grade, and I was working as an Accountant. Since then, I lost my job and everything I owned. It is not easy. We suffer from displacement often, in addition to being besieged more than once and leaving under shelling, tanks, and random targeting. I do not know how I survived every time.

We are displaced in a north of Gaza tent in the winter, and there is nothing to shelter us from the bitter cold. I do not know how to describe to you what we are living through. We were also harmed by displacement in the extreme heat, and it was really the most difficult, as if you were living inside an oven exposed to direct heat, as if you were really melting. Also, with the presence of insects and snakes, it was difficult, but we had no choice. We are living in a way that no human being can bear. We deserve a better life than this.

Life here is almost impossible. We do not know whether we will survive or not. We lost our home, and we are homeless now.

I lost everything, even my life,

I left my house on October 7th and have not returned to it because it is gone.

I have been displaced more than 10 times, each time I hoped it would be the last.

We live under a merciless army. What remains of my family is my mother, who is sick and needs expensive treatment.

I am the one who takes care of her, and I can not provide the treatment. This is something that scares me very much.

I could not leave Gaza because the cost of leaving for one person is $8,000, and I do not have this amount. In order to save your life, you have to pay a heavy price.

I had many ambitions and dreams that I intended to achieve, but the war destroyed everything. Still, I am striving and will continue to strive for a better life.

I am very ashamed to ask you to help me with anything, but I have to for my family. Even if it is a little, any donation would mean a lot to me. Then I can save my life and what is left of my family."

Thank you for reading. Please give what you can, consider Mohamed as if he were your own family. All we have is each other.

-Florence Ives