Gazan Family Rescue Fund

“Should my time come to pass, I ask you not to forget me. Take a moment to look at my photos, to preserve the words I've written, and to reread the stories I've shared. Am I a person who can easily be forgotten?"

Day 130 of Genocide, Mohammed Alkrunz, humanitarian activist

We are organizing the emergency rescue of 11 Gazan family members. With the recent violence in the region, their chances of survival are uncertain if they stay in Gaza. They have been displaced from their now-destroyed home and are sheltering in Rafah, which is now under attack.

They have relocated multiple times in the past four months, searching for safe shelter in the face of hunger, illness, and the constant threat of violence. Unfortunately, nowhere in Gaza is safe. Even the places where civilians were told to flee are being bombed without warning.

Their evacuation will only be possible if $80,000 is raised to pay for 11 family members to leave Gaza through the Egyptian border at the Rafah checkpoint. These funds will also cover the costs of basic necessities, border crossing fees, temporary accommodations, and flights out of Egypt, along with GoFundMe fees.

Please share this campaign widely, as lives are at stake.

A note from the family

My name is Mohammed. I am a 30-year-old writer and humanitarian activist residing in the Gaza Strip. I have dedicated my life to serving my community as a humanitarian aid and development activist.

Despite the challenges of living in our homeland, our life in Gaza had a sense of normalcy most of the time. My father, Ali, spent his life building a strong foundation for our family. My mother, Amal, put her heart into teaching English, helping to grow young minds. On October 7th, 2023, everything came crashing down as we lost our jobs and were forced to leave our home with no plan for the future.

Amidst the tumult of war, my brother Ahmed's position as an electrical engineer at the sole electricity company in Gaza evaporated. His wife Nedaa also lost her job as a mathematics teacher since the Gazan education system is in disarray and schools have closed. Their home was destroyed by the war.

My brother Diaa, renowned for his infectious energy and passion for sports, has always been the heartbeat of our family. His wife Shahd is a pillar of strength and compassion in the face of adversity. As a dedicated special education teacher, she has poured her heart into nurturing the minds and souls of her students, offering them the love and support they desperately craved.

My youngest brother Mahmoud, has always been the quiet one. With his enthusiasm for technology, he has had a promising career as a DevOps engineer.

Also among us are Mahmoud’s nephews Lama (2) and Khaled (3). We aim to do everything we can to shield them from the trauma and violence.

My fiancé Haneen, a devoted English language teacher in the Palestinian Ministry of Education, lost her job due to the destruction of Gaza’s education system. Haneen and I dream of sharing a future filled with love and joy. Our house was destroyed by bombing (photo below), thrusting us into a nightmarish world of displacement and uncertainty.

My and Haneen’s home, destroyed by bombs

Today, I find myself in a situation I never imagined—reaching out for help to ensure the safety of my family.

Thank you for standing with us in our time of need.

With heartfelt appreciation,

Mohammed

How the funds will be used

$51,000 USD for the coordination ($5,000 per adult and $3,000 for every child under 16) of nine adults and two children to leave Gaza through the Egyptian border. This money will get their names added to travel list through Rafah crossing, the only way out of Gaza right now.

$4,000 USD for temporary shelter in Egypt.

$6,000 USD for visas and flights to Turkey.

$5,000 USD for temporary shelter in Izmir, Turkey.

$5,000 USD to cover necessities such as water, food, hygiene products, and baby supplies, as well as passport fees, visa paperwork, and document transfers.

GoFundMe Ratio (2.9% + $0.30) = $2,350 USD.

The remaining funds to cover fees to transfer the money from US to Palestine.

Who is handling the money

My name is Nicole Mazzeo and I am a Boston-based educator. I have known Mohammed for nearly six years, since I reached out to him via email to request an interview with him about his humanitarian work in Gaza in 2018. I run a sexuality education organization called Pleasure Pie and have featured Mohammed's writings in several of our publications. I will transfer the money to Mohammed's family using Western Union.