Our Story – A Testimony of Survival and Hope

My name is Marah, and I am from Gaza.

My family consists of 16 members, including my married brother’s family, among them 6 children. I am writing these words on behalf of all of us—not only to share a story of suffering, but to testify that we are still alive despite everything we have endured.

During the war, we survived several massacres that happened right before our eyes. We lived through moments when we truly believed our lives were about to end. Any sense of safety completely disappeared.

We were displaced dozens of times, forced to move from one place to another, carrying only what we could hold, and leaving behind everything else—our memories, our home, and the life we once knew.

We spent long periods living in tents, where we experienced every kind of suffering:

the unbearable heat of summer inside the tents, and the freezing cold of winter that reached our bones.

Because of these inhumane conditions, lack of clean water, and absence of proper healthcare, we suffered from multiple skin diseases.

Later, we moved into a rented house, trying to create a small sense of stability for our family. Our real home, however, was completely destroyed in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, and we cannot return—not only because it no longer exists, but because the Israeli army is still present there, making any return impossible and extremely dangerous.

After the war, donations dropped significantly, while our basic needs remain:

rent, food, daily necessities, and medical care when needed.

Despite all of this, I refuse to give up.

I am a second-year nursing student, and I have achieved a high academic GPA, because I truly believe that education and helping others are my only weapons. I study so that one day I can save lives, just as we once hoped someone would save us in our darkest moments.

We are not asking for luxury.

We are only asking for the chance to live with dignity and safety, and for a small hand to help us stand again.

Any support, no matter how small, makes a real difference in our lives.

If you are unable to donate, sharing our story may help it reach someone who can.

Thank you to everyone who reads, cares, and stands with us.

Your humanity is what keeps us going