“I do not want anything but peace and calm. We have been utterly broken by this war. It took those most dear to us, my beloved brother and so many others. My sweetest days with my children. My home. All of those memories gone in an instant. Now we’re all separated. My husband and sons are far away and I’m alone with my daughter. Life is cruel. I just want God to bring my family and I together in peace…”

I’m writing to ask you to help someone I have come to know very well in Gaza in a displaced persons’ camp. Her name is Layla Zamer and she was an English teacher in the North of Gaza, in Beit Lahia, before this war began.

Her husband was working inside the green line (for an Israeli company) on October 7th. The Israeli authorities took him to the West Bank and dumped him at the border. Since then he’s been stranded and has been living with the family of a close friend of mine in their village, just outside of Jenin. My friend’s family happened to meet him and took him into their home and he’s been staying with them ever since. He wants to find a way to get back to his wife and family but it’s impossible right now.

He cannot return to Gaza and he cannot work or support his family. The situation in the West Bank is appalling right now. No one can work as they used to, or go about their daily lives as the military enter constantly, abduct and kill civilians and raid and torch businesses.

When Layla’s family home was bombed there was nothing her husband could do to reach them. Now Layla, their daughter and extended family are in a tent that becomes boiling hot in the day and freezing cold and waterlogged at night. Her home was totally destroyed - its contents burned from within and looted by the IOF. She has almost nothing to eat and is sharing a toilet and other unsanitary, overcrowded facilities with a large amount of people. Many relatives were killed, including Layla’s brother. Others made it to Egypt, but Layla has remained on, with sole care of her daughter and without any financial support. One of her sons was studying in Algeria, but had to abandon his education as he couldn’t continue paying, nor can he return to Gaza to support his mum and sister.

Layla has been through so much, moving constantly from shelter to shelter as the bombs rained down and planes flew over with orders to evacuate, time and time again. She has slept in schools and on a mattress on the street and witnessed the most terrible things. She has had to move from place to place, fleeing, setting up camp and fleeing again. She was displaced to Rafah, but is now in Bahr al Nuseirat, where there is a chance for her to find more stable accommodation. She sends me pictures of what daily life looks like for her, which I don’t want to share out of respect, but needless to say she’s enduring much hardship. She’s often reliant on friends and the wider community to be able to eat.

She’s very brave and kind and is obviously embarrassed to have to ask for financial support. Despite the terrible conditions she is living in, she always asks after me and my family. We know that any of us could find ourselves in this situation and that the shame and blame lies with the genocidal regime which has forced families into this situation. We know too that helping one family is a drop in the ocean of need in Gaza, but it’s one family whose lives will be transformed by your support.

Living costs have skyrocketed in Gaza - everything has become unaffordable, even for those who have recourse to funds / savings. Layla is utterly alone and in need now. Whilst many of us are planning holidays, home renovations, trips to restaurants or the theatre, Layla is thinking about how she’s going to feed herself and her daughter.

I know Layla’s story isn’t exceptional. I know there are many who are worse off than her. But I know Layla - and I am hopeful that my wider network will rally behind her. If you can, please donate to this fundraiser, designed to support Layla (and her husband) for the coming six months. If you can donate, we can get it to them. We have people who can facilitate this. I’m asking because I know her personally, just as many of you know me personally - I hope and pray that this counts for something.

Any questions at all, please email me or message me. Thank you so much in advance and wishing you all much love and light during these very dark times. Any donation - no matter how small - will be gratefully received. If you can’t support financially right now, please share this.

Thank you again, from myself, Layla and her family, in Gaza, the West Bank and beyond x