Medical Aid to Palestinians

Hi friends,

As a Buddhist, I believe that all living beings are interconnected, if one of us suffers, we all suffer. Nothing exists in isolation, because of this, all children are my children. Palestinian children are my children. All suffering is my suffering. Palestinian suffering is my suffering.

As a mother, I believe in every child’s right to live in peace. And I understand a mother's despair and profound grief when she fears for the livelihood of her child. It is estimated that 18,500 children have been killed so far, either by bombs, fire-arms, or malnutrition. In schools, churches, hospitals, in line to seek aid, buried under rubble. As a mother, I feel this deeply. Wanting so desperately to protect our children. I am aware of my immense privilege of raising my children in London, where they have access to food, safety and comfort, and so I don't have to fathom the pain and despair of a mother watching her children perish without being able to save them.

As an immigrant, woman, I understand being disenfranchised, displaced, and denied resources. I understand colonialism, and how it's built for the oppressor to keep his thumb on the oppressed. And that we exist in a system where not all lives are given the same value. I understand biased and manipulative narratives for control. But an imbalance of power doesn't just hurt the side of the powerless, it hurts all of us, because we are all interconnected. None of us are free, until we are all free. We are all human. We are all Palestinians.

As an artist, I believe in empathy, and the power of compassion and love. I believe in human life. In creation (over destruction), and i believe that light will undoubtedly overpower darkness. We can find ways to cut through, to stand up for humanity.

So, I am reaching out to ask for your support. I have signed up to run the Hackney half marathon in support of the Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)—a legally recognized UK charity providing strictly non-political, humanitarian medical services to civilians in Gaza and the West Bank.

Any donation you make will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about Medical Aid for Palestinians: Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) works for the health and dignity of Palestinians living under occupation and as refugees. We provide immediate medical aid to those in great need, while also developing local capacity and skills to ensure the long-term development of the Palestinian healthcare system.

Please support if/how you can. This is what I'm asking of my friends, this is what I'm asking for my birthday. Any donation means something. It's not too late to make a difference.

with gratitude,

Gabriela Garcia Medina

filmmaker. mother. human.