Hello, my name is Israa Mahdi, and I am a Canadian-Palestinian residing in Canada. I am reaching out with a heavy heart, asking for your urgent help for my family in Gaza, who are currently enduring unimaginable hardship. They have been through horrifying experiences, witnessing destruction, loss of life, and severe suffering among many families, friends, and neighbors.

My family, consisting of 34 individuals, including my elderly disabled grandmother, 3 uncles and 4 aunts, 22 children and 3 babies, has been forced to flee under constant bombardment. They relocated to the southern part of Gaza on October 14th, 2023, leaving behind everything they knew and loved. Their homes in northern Gaza were burned down, and their neighborhood was reduced to rubble. They have since been displaced in areas like Khan Younis, Dair-albalah, and Almawasi, constantly moving in search of safety, but it seems there is no escape from the violence. As of most recently, in September 2025 again they have been forced to take all their belongings and move under danger and struggle to another area called Al-zawaida.

Months of displacement have left them scattered between multiple camps under constant threat. Their family business, which dealt with water and solar power, was destroyed, and they have lost their primary source of income. Now, they face a dire reality of homelessness, hunger, and lack of access to even basic necessities such as clean water, medicine, and employment.

The entire Gaza Strip is unsafe, and the risks to their health are growing as they are forced to drink unsafe water. Every day is a struggle to survive, and the constant fear of violence makes it impossible to plan for tomorrow.

I cannot express enough how urgent and crucial your support would be. My family’s situation is a true emergency, and your help can make the difference between life and death for them. In these trying times, your compassion could offer them a glimmer of hope and a chance at a new beginning away from violence and destruction.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to listen to my family’s story. Your support will not only provide them with a safe refuge but will also stand as a testament to the shared humanity and solidarity that bind us all together. Together, we can give them the opportunity to rebuild their lives and escape the horrors they are facing every single day.

Thank you for your understanding, kindness, and generosity.