Help Sharaf Family Evacuate Gaza

In occupied Palestine in 1948, the Sharaf family lived peacefully and prosperously in the coastal city of Al-Majdal (Ashkelon), overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Engaged in trade and industry, they were soon forced by Israel, under threat of arms, to leave their beautiful city and relocate to Gaza.

They settled in Gaza, where they faced new challenges and a life full of hardships in refugee camps. Despite the pain and loss, they maintained their strong spirit and determination to build a better future in Gaza, believing that justice would one day prevail.

The family struggled to adapt to the pain of displacement, despite their occupied city being just a few kilometers away from Gaza, visible from a distance as tears welled in their eyes. Thus, the grandchildren "we" were born and raised in the refugee homeland of Gaza, a small city not exceeding 360 square kilometers, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Since our upbringing, we have confronted all conditions imposed by Israeli occupation, from siege and electricity cuts to countless humanitarian crises.

From my childhood, I experienced four wars on Gaza City, until 2023 when we hoped for a better future. However, the occupation demolished all aspects of life in Gaza on October 7th of that year, before the eyes of an unjust world that stood idly by.

The October 7th, 2023 war began on a Saturday, and we woke up to the sounds of bombardment and planes leaving no stone unturned. The story of the ancestors repeated with the grandchildren, as the family once again fled from northern Gaza to its southern part under threat of arms, relentless bombing, and horrifying massacres. We miraculously survived, leaving behind our home, memories, and everything beautiful. Our home, with its beautiful memories carrying the ancestors' message of hope to return to Al-Majdal, was destroyed.

Before the October 7, 2023 war, my father worked as a teacher for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), constantly encouraging us to pursue education and persevere. My eldest sister, Layan, was an English teacher, while Emad graduated from the College of Administrative and Financial Sciences. I, Loay, graduated from the College of Engineering with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Alaa is still a student in the College of Engineering, specializing in Software Engineering, but her university was destroyed, halting her studies. As for Aseel and Asim, they are minors still in school, but their schools were also destroyed.

After the war, our dreams have become simpler but more urgent. We now aspire to leave Gaza, rebuild our lives, complete our education, and return to stability and safety. I aimed to complete my university studies and pursue a master's degree in Mechanical Engineering. My sister, Alaa, dreams of earning her bachelor's degree in Software Engineering, working in the technology sector, and contributing to the development of software solutions that benefit society. She looks forward to building a successful professional future. Similarly, each of my siblings had ambitions and hopes that have now been shattered.

I write this story from the refugee camps, amidst relentless bombing and destruction, hoping that our dreams find a sympathetic ear for our just cause and our story amidst the overwhelming injustice and darkness. The Shuraf family urgently needs to be evacuated from Gaza City to escape this deadly and devastating war and to rebuild our lives anew. Any assistance will undoubtedly make a significant difference in our shattered lives.

We appeal to anyone who hears our story: your support, no matter how small, can be the lifeline that saves us from this endless nightmare. Each contribution brings us one step closer to safety, to a future where we can rebuild, educate our younger ones, and heal from the deep wounds inflicted upon us. Your generosity can restore hope to a family that has endured unimaginable suffering. Please, help us find the light at the end of this dark tunnel, and give us the chance to start again.