Urgent Funds for Noura's Family's Escape & Reunion

Hello, my name is Parker Pennington and I am fundraising on behalf of my close friends Noura and Ekhlas to help their father and 2 brothers evacuate from Gaza to Egypt as soon as the Rafah Crossing re-opens.

I will be writing on behalf of Ekhlas and her family. Ekhlas is a dear and close friend to me and I have been by her side helping her and her family fundraise for months. We would like to thank you all for helping us to reach the first goal and for helping us to evacuate Ekhlas' mother and seven year-old twin siblings. Ekhlas, her sister Noura, and the majority of their family are safe in Egypt, but they have been separated from their father and 2 brothers who are now in Khan Younis with nowhere to shelter. I would like to tell you all a little bit about what Ekhlas and her family have been through.

My friend Ekhlas belongs to a large family - a family of 13. Prior to October 7th, 2023, Ekhlas was studying to become a graphic designer. She was nearly finished with her studies, and she was already getting work with some companies in Gaza and internationally due to her talent. Last year, nearly eight months ago, Ekhlas and her entire family's world turned upside down, and everyday since has been heartache and tragedy. They have all lost countless friends, family members, acquaintances, teachers, classmates. In November 2023, their neighbors' home was bombed, resulting in the partial destruction of Ekhlas' family's home in Rafah. Ekhlas' father suffered an injury to his head after this bombing, and their family had to shelter in a partially bombed home for months. Miracuously, all of their family members survived this attack.

In February of this year, Ekhlas' mother suffering with scoliosis became unbearable, to the point she was unable to stand. She had been unable to receive the treatment she needed for half a year at this point. Due to many people's kindness and contributions for their family's previous campaign, Ekhlas' mother was able to leave Rafah with her two youngest children, seven year-old twins, and evacuate to Egypt at the beginning of May. At this point, Ekhlas and her family had to make the heartbreaking decision to only try to raise funds to evacuate Ekhlas, Noura, and their 2 younger sisters, leaving their father and brothers behind. Ekhlas' father is an incredibly selfless man, and due to all of the horrific assaults on women occurring in Gaza as well as the invasion of Rafah looming over them, he just wanted his daughters to be safe.

Then, the Rafah invasion began. Leaflets were spread to evacuate Rafah within 24 hours earlier in May because the invasion was imminent. Their family had to make a quick decision, and Ekhlas' father was able to negotiate and bargain with some friends and relatives, and negotiate the evacuation of Ekhlas, Noura, their two younger sisters, as well as their two younger brothers to Egpyt via the Rafah Crossing that very day. Ekhlas and her siblings had to make the heartbreaking decision to either stay in Gaza and possibly die, or worse, with their father and 2 brothers who would remain, or to evacuate and join their mother and youngest siblings in Egypt. They decided to go. Ekhlas was suffering from a severe H. Pylori infection, and has thankfully been able to receive treatment in Egpyt. But life is not easy there. She and her entire family miss their father and 2 brothers who are suffering from the most horrific conditions now.

Rafah has been leveled nearly completely, and Ekhlas and her family are unsure of what has happened to their beloved home and neighborhood now. The day that Ekhlas and her siblings evacuated Rafah, her father and 2 brothers evacuated to Khan Younis, with nowhere to go. They are displaced, and are hoping to build a tent to shelter in now. Food is more scarce than ever, and massacres against displaced civilians are occuring every day and night. One of Ekhlas' brothers is now also infected with H. Pylori in his stomach due to the bad conditions, crowding, and no access to clean water or healthy food. He also had an injury to his eye back in October of last year that he was unable to receive treatment for, and is at a very great risk of blindness or losing his eye completely now. One of his best friends since childhood was recently martyred in an air strike as well.

Ekhlas has told me so much how much love she has for her father - she says he is respected and loved by everyone, and he is so incredibly generous, caring, and loving to everyone. All of her friends and acquaintances adore her father. Same for her brothers, she is always telling me what kind and gracious men all of them are. It is very evident how selfless and caring these three men are for their family by this sacrifice they have made to allow their family members to have safety.

When Ekhlas was still in Rafah living through this horror with her family, and they were unable to find food themselves, her and her family took it upon themselves to feed and care for stray cats in the area. They are the most selfless and caring people. They lost their beloved family cat Hussein, as well as their 2 birds Lulu and Tata, due to starvation very early on. They have suffered unimaginably. They don't deserve any of this. Ekhlas and her family just want to be reunited. She has spoken to me in great detail of the survivor's guilt she feels to be separated from her father, brothers, and all of her loved ones still stuck in Gaza.

Breakdown of funds

Currently, we need approximately $13,000 to be able to evacuate Ekhlas' father and brothers once the Rafah Crossing re-opens. Due to fees taken by the site, I am setting the goal a bit higher to ensure we can raise the entire amount.

If you would like to connect with Ekhlas and Noura via social media to learn more about their story from their perspective, please feel free to follow them!

IG: @helpnoura_gazafamily

TikTok: @helpingnoura_gzfamily

Ekhlas' older sister Noura is an incredibly talented writer, I would like to share some of her words about her experience with you all.