Aid for Mahmoud's Family Amidst Ongoing War

Dear Friends and Supporters,

My name is Mahmoud Al Shaer. I’m currently living in Al Mawasi, in the southern Gaza Strip, with my wife, Hadil, and our daughter, Nai. Our son, Majd, remains in Turkey with my mother since November 2023, receiving critical medical care. Like so many families in Gaza, we have been uprooted, displaced, and faced with overwhelming obstacles in a situation that seems to have no end in sight.

I am an editor, curator, and poet who, until October 2023, was deeply involved in cultural work in Gaza, leading initiatives like 28 Magazine and Gallery 28 and coordinating the cultural program at Al Ghussein Cultural House in Gaza’s old city. These roles allowed me to build a meaningful life around art and literature. However, the relentless war has destroyed the Gallery 28, obliterated Al Ghussein Cultural House, and shattered the life I once knew.

Since May 2024, I’ve been displaced six times, moving my family from one uncertain shelter to another. The siege has cut us off from basic necessities like water, electricity, and access to medical care. our survival has become a daily struggle. Prices for basic goods have skyrocketed, and we live in an environment where even access to clean water comes at an exorbitant cost.

Our attempts to leave Gaza and seek safety have been thwarted. The Rafah crossing, once our only hope, was destroyed in early May. With no exit route and no promise of safety, we’ve been forced to reframe our survival in terms of day-to-day resilience. While this campaign was initially launched in January 2024 to fund our trip from Gaza to outside, it has now become essential in helping us endure this brutal siege, providing basic survival necessities and a lifeline to keep hope alive.

Despite the destruction and loss, I remain committed to my art and writing as acts of resistance and survival. They allow me to make sense of this unimaginable reality and share our story with the world. The support I’ve received has not only sustained us materially but has also become a source of immense strength and solidarity, reminding us that we are not alone in this struggle.

What We Are Asking For:

We are now seeking the money to continue sustaining our family under these extreme circumstances. This includes funds for essential resources: food, water, accommodations.

Every contribution brings us closer to survival, not just in the physical sense, but also in maintaining our resilience in the face of destruction. Your help is not just monetary; it is a gesture of solidarity, compassion, and shared humanity.

Thank You:

To all those who have supported us thus far, whether financially or by sharing our story, we cannot express enough gratitude. Your efforts have been a lifeline. With your continued support, we can persevere through these dark times and hold onto hope for a future beyond this war.

With all our gratitude and hope,

Mahmoud Al Shaer and Family