Help Support Saja's Family Evacuate From Gaza

Dear Friends,

My name is Saja Samy, I am a medical student studying in Egypt. I was born and raised in Gaza, Palestine. I’m writing this to you in a time of great urgency and need. My family, comprising eight members, is presently in Gaza, confronting unfathomable circumstances. I am urgently seeking your support to facilitate their evacuation to safety.

I left Gaza a few years ago to achieve my dream of becoming a doctor and have the tools to support my people in Gaza. It has been my family's aspiration for me to become our family’s first doctor, and they wholeheartedly supported my endeavor, facilitating my departure and encouraging me every step of the way. Their unwavering support has been instrumental in shaping who I am today. Today, I am seeking support in saving them.

I find myself far away, feeling helpless as my family endures the hardships of the ongoing crisis in Gaza. The situation has become increasingly dire, and I fear for the safety of my family daily. I’ve lived through aggressions and a lot of random attacks at the hands of the occupation. However, despite previous instances of aggression, this current assault marks the first time I have separated from my family. Regrettably, it is also the most severe, ruthless, and longest attack on my people and beloved city of Gaza. The constant worry over their safety consumes my thoughts, hindering my ability to concentrate on my studies or any other matters. With sporadic communication and weeks passing without any updates, the uncertainty surrounding their well-being only amplifies my stress.

So far, my family has been forced to evacuate 6 times. Each place they go to is dangerous, with limited to no sources of food, clean water, bathroom, and blankets. They have endured and continue to endure scary events, much like all residents of Gaza, amidst unstoppable gunfire, airstrikes, and bombings. Our home, like countless others in the Al Shujayyah neighborhood in northern Gaza, was obliterated amidst the relentless onslaught.

In addition to my wonderful parents, I have six siblings: Shady, Nada, Mohammad, Deema, Hazem, and Tala. These are the cherished names of my siblings, who are the soul of my soul, each one of them has their unique place in my heart. Shady, my 18-year-old brother, whose journey into university was filled with excitement, now faces the obstacle of a demolished institution, ending his dream of becoming a computer engineer. I miss the very loving and compassionate Nada and Mohammad, aged 15 and 13, and the laughter and joy that Deema and Hazem, aged 9 and 8, brought into my life. Lastly, Tala, affectionately called "the little copy of Saja," is a piece of me; her pictures bring immense joy. Each of my siblings holds dreams and talents. They deserve to have their dreams achieved. My family is everything to me; I need them to be safe and secure. The only way to ensure this is for them to leave Gaza. I kindly urge you to assist me in evacuating them, allowing me the opportunity to be reunited with them once more.

The only way for me to ensure that my family is going to be okay and saved from the inevitable constant displacement and death is to evacuate them out of Gaza. I have started this GoFundMe campaign to raise $80,000 to facilitate my family's evacuation to Egypt.

Your contribution, no matter how small, will allow my family to get back together in a secure setting. Every dollar received will be put toward securing their evacuation through the transparent and effective use of the funds.

Please share this campaign with family members, friends, colleagues, and your community. I am deeply grateful to you for taking the time to listen to my story and helping me in any way you can. Your efforts, kindness, and care are very much appreciated. I can’t express in words how much you helping me save my family means to me during this critical time.

My deep gratitude and respect,

Saja Samy

Note from the organizer: My name is Sahra and I am hosting this Gofundme for my dear friend, Saja. All funds raised will be transferred directly to Saja's family, so they can evacuate Gaza. Additionally, Bobbie Gottschalk is listed as the beneficiary because she is collecting the donations/funds and will send the total to Saja’s family.