Diana Shams is a mother of two young children, doing everything she can to keep them alive in a war zone. Somehow, in the midst of devastation, hunger, and fear, she found the strength to write a book ‘A Different Kind of Motherhood’, documenting what it means to raise children under siege in Gaza. Her story has been featured by The Guardian and The Washington Post, and she is even followed by Miss Rachel on Instagram (Links below)
And yet, despite this visibility, Diana remains trapped in Gaza with her two children, her husband, and her father, Shams Odeh. They are living in a destroyed building in Khan Younis after their family home was bombed and destroyed, with little to no access to food or clean water.
Every day brings the very real threat of starvation, bombing, and death.
My name is Christopher Smith, and I am urgently fundraising to help support this family.
So why am I doing this? Shams Odeh, Diana's father was a colleague of my father, Jeremy Smith when they both worked at Reauters news agency as Journalists, my dad passed away from cancer in 2014 but were he here now he would be moving heaven and earth to help his friend in Gaza.
This fundraiser is about immediate survival, getting money to them as fast as possible so they can buy whatever food and water is still available. But it is also about hope: raising enough to help them rebuild their lives. The Rafah crossing may be opened next week but they cannot rely on that:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/22/gazas-rafah-crossing-with-egypt-to-open-next-week-palestinian-official
This is not an abstract crisis. This is one family. Five lives. Two children who deserve the chance to grow up without the constant threat of hunger, violence, and fear.
Right now, we have a chance to do something real. A chance to turn compassion into action. A chance help these people.
Any funds donated will be sent via myself straight to Shams & Diana in Gaza. I am in contact with them daily and will post updates.
Donate & share this fundraiser as widely as possible. Every share increases the chance that this family survives. Time is critical, and even the smallest contribution can make a difference. Send it to friends, loved ones, celebrities, whoever you feel could help.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading, caring, and helping in any way you can.
Christopher Smith
Organizer
