Sami's Story: Life Before and After the Genocide in GAZA

Dear world,

my name is Sami Abu Ishaq, and I was born in Khan Younis (Gaza), a place that once felt like home, filled with love, safety, and dreams. Before the war, life was simple and beautiful. I grew up in a close-knit family, surrounded by warmth and laughter. I was a top student in school, eager to learn, and I dreamt of becoming a cardiologist. I loved playing with my friends on the sports fields—those moments of joy were some of the best in my life.

But above all, my heart belonged to my little sister. She was only ten years old, my best friend, my light. Whenever I called her name, she would come running, her laughter filling the air. I was her protector, and she was my joy.

Then, on February 2, 2024, everything changed.

A bomb struck the school in which we found shelter. I remember the deafening explosion, the chaos, the terror. I ran to find my family, only to see my uncle holding my sister in his arms—her small body covered in blood. In that moment, my world shattered. I survived, but she did not.

The pain of losing her was unbearable. My family and I were forced to flee, seeking shelter in a tent, moving from place to place, never safe, never secure. The war followed us everywhere. Food became scarce, clean water a luxury. Every day was a battle just to stay alive.

I didn’t know how to face these challenges. Losing my sister was my deepest wound, but the struggle for survival made it even harder. Despite everything, I clung to a small spark of hope. I tried to find ways to provide for my family, searching for food, for clothes—anything to ease their suffering.

"We need help," I kept saying. "We are being erased in Gaza. Children are being killed, and those who survive are left with nothing." The world felt silent to our pain, yet I still dreamed of a better future. Even in darkness, I believed that someone, somewhere, might hear my voice.

I am asking for your help. I have lost so much, but I refuse to lose hope. With your support, I can help my family to feed my siblings, rebuild my life, find safety, and continue my education. I still want to become a doctor—to heal others, just as I wished I could have saved my sister.

Your kindness can make a difference. Please, help me take the first step toward a future free from fear, a future where dreams can exist again.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart,

Sami

Important side note:

Sami is only 17 years old and is trying to support his father in providing for his siblings. His father is not very familiar with digital platforms, so with the help of a friend in Austria, he was able to create this fundraiser. Beata Bartha (IG @bebedelmar based in Vienna/Austria) who is overseeing the fundraiser, can verify the identities of the family and is responsible for managing it since Sami is still a minor.