Abutaha Family Support Fund

My name is Alexandra Lort Phillips. In March 2013 I travelled with a small group to the Gaza Strip to build a skate ramp for young people to use at Al-Amal Sports Club in Khan Younis.

Our hosts were the wonderfully generous and kind Abutaha family, Mustafa and Reem, parents to four young children at the time. Mustafa is a university English teacher teaching courses in English language and linguistics. Reem is a chemistry graduate with a part time job for United Nations Relief Work Agency, UNRWA.

Mustafa and Reem Abutaha provided food, shelter and transport for three of us for more than a month whilst we visited Gaza from the UK. They took care of our every need, showing us around Gaza, keeping us safe with hospitality and kindness. We have remained friends ever since.

When Israel began bombing Gaza in October 2023 of course we were concerned for the welfare of our friends and terrified that something would happen to them. Then, on Thursday 7th December, terrible news came that the Abutaha family home had been struck by Israeli missiles.

Here is Mustafa's account of the day his home was struck by an Israeli missile:

"On the 7th of December I was sitting at my neighbour's home. I had left home that day not as usual but at around 8:30am, I usually left home at 10:30am. It is war time so we go to bed very late because of the concern we have in our hearts and minds. While we were talking we heard two huge explosions. I saw and heard people crying and screaming 'Mustafa come, come, they shelled your home!' So I walked out off my neighbour's and took my bike, it was around 150m away from my home. I started to cry and shout, my sons! My daughter Layan! There was lots of smoke but despite this I decided to go upstairs, I could hardly reach the second floor, the floors to my apartment were destroyed. I found a hole in the ceiling of my brother's apartment and with the help of others I was able to reach the apartment above. Everything was turned into pieces, I don't know what kind of bomb they used. I found my brother Ibrahim's body, and another man's body and other bodies, I could not identify because there was so much dust, sand and gravel on their faces and everywhere. I heard people below saying 'here is Hany' my brother, he was dead. I was shouting for my children, I could not find them. I believed all my children must be dead, Mohamad, Abddelaziz, Layan and Yaman. I went to find my wife at the UNRWA centre where she was working part time, she wouldn't believe the children were all dead and said we must go to the hospital. On my way to the hospital someone told me my son Mohamad has been martyred. I couldn't cry, my tears were dry. I followed six people carrying white coffins to the cemetery and when I was there I lifted the cover off my son's face and his face was covered in dust, and then I could cry. Why?! Why was he killed?! My beloved son Mohamad. At the hospital I saw my daughter Layan in a very critical situation, the paramedics thought it was hopeless and were working on other patients, she was unconscious. I found my son Abdelaziz lying with his face broken his mouth wide open and my son Yaman screaming. I begged a paediatrician to try to work with Layan in the emergency room and they did so for six hours. I felt very powerless and hopeless, these are terrible memories. She was moved to an intensive care unit. She and Abdelaziz have been moved to Egypt now and she remains in a coma.

My home is completely destroyed. I have lost everything. My home, my son, my brothers and my nephew and their wives, leaving six children orphaned. Who is going to bring them up and look after them? Gaza is crying for a permanent ceasefire"

Mohamad, Ibrahim and Kholoud were all killed in the strike

Abutaha family home has been destroyed - in Gaza extended families live in the same block

Ahmed, Mohamad, Ahmed and Hany were all killed

Layan remained in a coma for seven weeks she has recovered consciousness but needs extensive ongoing speech and physical therapy

Mohammad, he was killed by the strike

Burial of members of Abutaha family

Amany Abutaha, she has motor impairment and unable to walk

Mohammed, a cousin, killed earlier whilst walking along the street by a nearby explosion

We are collecting funds to send to Mustafa and Reem Abutaha for their immediate expenses and to help other needy people around them. Prices of food have increased ten-fold, their home is destroyed and no salaries are being paid. We know that we can give them funds directly and even small amounts make a big difference at this scale. Since their home has been destroyed they have been sleeping in the hospital, when they can sleep at all.

When communications are resumed it is possible to send money by Western Union. We will manage the donations - direct to our personal contacts Mustafa and Reem and 100% of the funds will go direct to them for their immediate needs, for the wider family and other needy people who have lost everything, who are displaced and find themselves in hospital and they share any spare resources they have with others.

I am in touch with Mustafa on a daily basis while the crisis continues and will provide updates.

05/01/2024 Mustafa visited his home to search for any items that my be useable: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gPfpHSDXORfuHeB15BwvpWKFRCzv4zSy/view?