Hello, Rafika here!

Welcome to 'Lift Gaza - In Solidarity we Bench!'.

This is a sponsored weightlifting fundraiser for Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP). Me, my son and 10 of his friends have committed to individual weightlifting and fundraising goals which when summed up amount to a group goal of lifting 1,000,000kgs, and fundraising £4,000 over the 10 week period (5th Oct - 21st December). If a truckload of medical aid weighs 30tonnes, this is equivalent to 33 truckloads of medical aid! An impressive feat.

Who are MAP?

MAP are a UK registered charity that provides medical services and infrastructure to Palestinians. They have clinics based in Gaza and the West Bank where money will deliver desperately needed services on the ground. Your money will go to maintain and improve hospital equipment, emergency medical team services, and clean water facilities in Gaza, and mobile clinics in the West Bank. Additionally, it will support advocacy work putting pressure on the UK Government to stop supporting the Israeli military.

Your money will save lives and make lasting change! Are you in?

Why is MAP important to me?

I'm an Irish-Yemeni troubled with the ongoing colonial project in Gaza and the West Bank. Israel is continuing its operation to create a Greater Israel. This troubles me threefold:

1) The suffering inflicted on innocent men, woman and children

2) The erasure of international law setting a precedent for other countries to colonise with impunity

3) The rise in racist far-right politics that drives these colonial projects, and scapegoats migrants

Palestinians need two things. Firstly, they need medical aid to survive the onslaught. And secondly, they need western governments to apply pressure on Israel, as has been done on Russia, to stop the bloodshed, end the occupation, and bring about lasting peace. MAP delivers both.

How will my money be used by MAP?

Funds generated will be used to contribute to the ongoing support in Gaza as detailed in the following link https://www.map.org.uk/landing-pages/maps-emergency-response , as well as delivering support in the West Bank and Lebanon as detailed in their 2024 impact report here: https://www.map.org.uk/publications/2024-impact-review#:~:text=As%20violence%20escalated%20throughout%202024,helped%20establish%20urgent%20care%20centres .

How will money be donated?

MAPs bank account is linked to the fundraiser. GoFundMe use PayPal Giving Fund, a registered charity (No. 1110538), to receive the donations and transfer the funds to MAP. Therefore, donations will go directly to their bank account.

Weightlifting Challenge

Here's a note from my Son:

"'Lift Gaza' is exactly what it says on the tin! It is a sponsored weightlifting fundraiser in solidarity with Palestinians. We are a group of mixed age hobby weightlifters from Ireland, Bulgaria, United Kingdom, Yemen, Canada, and Brazil. Some of us are seasoned weightlifters trying to maximise massive lifts, whilst others are new to weightlifting and starting a healthy habit. What brings us together is compassion and solidarity for the innocent Palestinian men, women and children who are suffering untold pain, and our desire to get jacked in their name.

We all have ambitious goals, pushing our bodies to exertion for the sake of saving lives and making a difference. We'll be posting our progress onto the GoFundMe every two weeks, competing with each other on who can lift the most, and who can reach their goal first. All of our goals can be seen in the 'Updates' section below. If you are lucky you might get to see a sexy or sweaty photo or two. So, please check up on our progress, share our fundraiser and help us 'Lift Gaza' together!

Call to Action

If the narrative doesn’t change and political pressure doesn’t win, Gaza will be ethnically cleansed. And if that is allowed to happen, who is next?

Please share this fundraiser to your friends, family and social media.

Contact your MPs to demand they stop supporting the Israeli military. For people based in the UK, you can do this through MAPs campaign here: https://www.map.org.uk/campaigns/current-campaigns

If you believe in free speech, the right to protest, international law, human rights, and world peace please act now.

Educational Material

Mainstream media has a bias toward supporting Israel and de-legitimising Palestine. Historical myths such as 'a land without a people and a people without a land' act to erase Palestinian history and statehood in the name of colonial interest. We need to change the narrative. Below are a list of prestigious and independent academics, authors, journalists, NGOs and media channels that keep the truth alive. Please do check them out and spread the word:

Ilan Pappe - Jewish-Israeli Historian and Author who wrote the excellent book 'Ten Myths of Israel'

Mehdi Hasan - Independent Journalist who founded Zeteo Media

Novarra Media - UK-based media independent media company

Francesca Albanese - UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine

Transparency and Accountability

MAP is a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered Number 3038352 England. Charity Registration No. 1045315. They are independently audited. Their financial statements, deliverables, and ambitious plans can be found in the '2023 Trustees annual report and accounts' here: https://www.map.org.uk/publications/trustees-annual-report-and-accounts