Help Shahad and Kholoud survive the war in Gaza

We are Shahad and Kholoud Albelbeisi, and we’re eighteen year old twin sisters from northern Gaza. We’re the third generation of our family born into occupation, and we have lived under the Israeli siege of Gaza since nearly the day we were born.

Despite the challenges we have faced, our parents always believed that our education was the key to our future, and we have both worked hard our whole lives to achieve the highest grades in the hopes of studying abroad. Shahad hopes to have her own law firm one day, and Kholoud wants to be an engineer.

For us, this was meant to be a year of dreams and perseverance when we would graduate from school and head to university.

But after October 7, our year of dreams has become a year of nightmares, clinging to life as we walk amongst the dead. Our home in Gaza City was bombed by the Israeli army, and we fled on foot under fire from snipers.

After losing nearly everything we loved - our home, our neighbourhood, so many friends and relatives - we have spent the last nine months on the run. We fled from Gaza City to Khan Younis, then to Rafah. And we have had to flee to assault on Rafah back to Khan Younis.

Despite living this nightmare for nine months, we still dream of a better future, and of a day when we will receive our diplomas, head to university and make our dreams come true.

Until that day comes, our dreams of the future give us hope. We will never give up on our dreams, but what we need most today is your financial support to help us survive this brutal and genocidal existence.

Our daily life is a struggle for survival. We often go days without enough food, and obtaining even the most basic necessities we once took for granted - shampoo, toothpaste, clean clothes - is nearly impossible. And even when we can find them, we cannot afford them.

Any donations you can provide will help us obtain basic supplies to stay alive and to stay healthy enough to survive this nightmare, and to live with dignity.

We are so grateful to all of you, and we promise you that we will make you proud of us one day.

Thank you, and Jazakum Allahu Khairan,

Shahad and Kholoud Albelbeisi

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This fundraiser is being organized by me, Yousef Tuqan .

I am a family friend of Shahad and Kholoud, and I am providing logistical support.

All funds raised are being distributed directly to Kholoud’s personal bank account in Palestine, and confirmation/evidence of payment can be provided upon request.