Help my family in Gaza!

Hello, my name is Elham and I'm a Palestinian medical intern in Egypt. I'm writing this difficult, urgent request with a hand on my heart, to help support my dear family of 3 members out of Gaza in the current dire situation.

I haven't seen my family since October of 2022 due to the circumstances of my studies in medical school and the difficulty of going back home even during my short breaks. I always reassured myself, no matter how much I missed them, that I have to endure my stay away from home so that I can come back with the success they forever supported and pushed me towards. I always told myself: I just have to finish my medical and internship years and go back to them in pride, and see the joy they truly deserve painted on their faces.

My internship years are almost over, and I thought the day of going home to my family was close. This was until October 2023.

My home is in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza. Since the most horrifying, unimaginable things started to happen with the breakout of this cruel war, my family had to leave everything behind and were displaced four times until they reached Rafah in southern Gaza. They had to live through horrors and tragedies every time they had to displace again, witnessing their brothers and sisters getting killed all around them by the minute. With hopes of some safety, they left with nothing but some clothing from home, being the only thing carrying the memory of home ever being there.

The situation in northern Gaza, especially where I lived, is sickeningly disastrous to the point my family doesn't even have any idea about the state of our house. If it is still there at all. We had a small land there too, with beautiful trees growing lemon, guava and olives. My father loved them to bits, my mother tended them like they were her children. It's where my little sister and I grew up, having the purest dreams and goals under their shades. Those are my most precious memories. The war on Gaza plucked out those trees that raised us, and our loved ones and dreams alongside them.

My father works as a technician in Beit Hanoun hospital, which was violently raided and mercilessly bombarded since the beginning of the war. My mother is a housewife, and my , University of Palestineyear student in architectural engineering in the rdlittle sister is a 3which was also threatened by the airstrikes. Every little thing from home is gone.

If anything, the last dream I have is to see my family safely again. I wish nothing more than their simple presence in my graduation, all safe and sound and well.

The situation in southern Gaza where they're seeking refuge is getting exponentially worse. They are subjected to relentless hunger and thirst, the sounds of the airstrikes unceasing day and night, and the imminent smell of death all around. They're more than just exhausted, they've endured those past 4 months what no human can ever endure.

Rafah is now being threatened by military offensive, and I kindly ask you for your support to help save my family from this overwhelming danger.