Help Itaf and Mazen across the Rafah border!

Hello!

I am Itaf and this is my husband Mazen.

My husband is everything to me, and I am his everything... and we are being starved. We want to be together, and we want to see each other smile again in peace. Our love is unique to us, we don't want to lose each other. We don't want a world where one of us doesn't exist anymore. We desire the end of this constant anxiety, hunger and danger. Our love is strong and we want to connect with the whole world, we have so much to give back. Please feel your power to support us through the tiniest contribution, so we can leave Gaza eventually for freedom and peace.

What happened to us?

My husband and I live in Rafah, Gaza under harsh conditions. For more than five months, we have been under bombardment, war and fire.

My house was severely damaged due to the bombing that was next to me. The shrapnel fell right on top of us. We narrowly escaped death. Many of my neighbors and relatives died because of these attacks. So we couldn't stay and had to relocate. Our new "house" is mainly made of tin sheets (see picture below).

We are now in severe hardship, hunger and thirst. We eat grasses, animal feed and drink polluted salt water to survive. There is no water, food, or treatment. Even though the little we have, every morning if possible, we feed the cats and make sure they got something as well.

We want to escape by all means. Please support us get out of here. You can make a difference even by donating a coffees worth.

Helping us means that you give us life and live safely. Help, to get us out of this burning hell here. The bombs are dropping mercilessly on our land.

Every minute makes a difference. Every little amount counts. A small amount that doesn't hurt you, can make the biggest difference to us... you personally don't have to carry a huge burden, we are asking for a collective deed, when many people give a little, we will make it. Thank you so much.

❤️

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Adressing your commonly asked questions:

1. Can we trust this?

Our friend in Germany has started this campaing for us, because we in Palestine are not allowed to do a GoFundme. Our friend will make sure the money reaches us safely via Western Union. Thank you so much for helping and asking!

2. It feels like a losing battle

That's true for every time you give a Dollar to a homeless person as well, and you still do it from time to time, so they can get something to eat today.

In our case, we are trapped in the real life squid-games or hunger games. You can actually help a ton by giving 1$ and spread the news! We are still alive... the battle is not lost yet.

3. Focus on two people? Then what about all the other people?

We love this thought, because it shows so much compassion, but it will cause hopelessness and inaction. You are here now, so if you want to help, here is a good place to start. Just even 1$ and spreading this campaign on social media to reach our goal will make the biggest difference. Thank you!

(If you want to help furthermore, we'd greatly appreciate if you consider donating to the UNWRA Gaza relief fund as well).

This is a scene from my diary of harsh conditions. It was a very good day I bought half a kilo of rice, cooked it, and now I'm done. I was trying to buy a kilo of sugar but it is insanely high priced.

4. Why this specific amount and does it really help?

The little bit of food we can still get here got extremely expensive, so even just staying will be costly if we want to stay alive. The costs of coordination at the Rafah crossing will go through the Egyptian Hala company. One of the burdens we have to carry is non-reliable bureaucracy, the cost is $5,000 - $10,000 per person. There are road and crossing fees from Rafah to Cairo of approximately $100 per person. I do not know how much it costs to fly from Egypt to the host country where Carolin invited us to. So our aim is to get $20.000 (which translates to 22.500 Euros incl. the GoFundMe fee) to at least get the Rafah crossing for sure. If we have extra we can afford to get to our host country as well, which would be the absolute dream - but our first goal is to get out.

5. How do I stay informed?

I post my Inside-Gaza diary on Facebook and Instagram, please feel free to follow me there, I will post updates!

Follow my diary on Facebook

Follow me on Instagram

Furthermore Carolin will help keep this Fundraiser up to date!

6. Why should I help?

Because we can only succeed when everybody gives a little bit.

This is our current home, thanks for your help even for the slightest bit! Greetings from Gaza...

7. How often is the money being sent?

The donations are being transferred on a regular basis, so that they are with Itaf and Mazen as soon as possible.

8. How is the money being used?

It will be used to evacuate eventually and in the meantime to buy food and water, to survive the harsh conditions.

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Thank you for taking the time to read this and for considering supporting our cause.

Your generosity will make a world of difference for us. <3

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Update 11. March 2024:

I am here with my husband This is my neighbors house right next to me

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Update 17.03.

Scenes from my diary: This afternoon I searched for the herb Khobeza (common Palestinian mallow). Finally I found some leafs at this spot, since most of the grass here has withered in the sun's heat.

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Update: 03. April 2024

Since we were children we have been living a nightmare And every day they tell us tomorrow will be better But every day it got worse Every day the darkness grows deeper and deeper Every day the light disappears Every day is sadness Sorrows and worries have accumulated in our hearts, and we no longer have any taste for life Our hearts are forever bound by distress. We enter with anxiety and a problem, then a greater anxiety and problem enters, and so on in spirals. I wasted my life waiting for a happy day.

When will I live this life? How much time do i have to wait?

I want to live just one happy day I want to escape from here as quickly as possible Take me out and save me and my husband from here, my friends.

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Disclaimer: no raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or promotions are offered in exchange for any donations made to your GoFundMe. (We're sorry if there was such offer in the past, this was due to our unawareness of the GFM guidelines, we apologize for the inconvenience)