Help Mahmoud's Family Escape Gaza To Safety

Hello, my name is Abby Brockman and I’m a Jewish chaplain in Seattle, WA facilitating critical fundraising to help my dear friend, Mahmoud B.*, urgently evacuate his beloved family out of Rafah in southern Gaza. This includes himself, his wife Arwa, and their three young children Mohammed (11), Ward (10), and Zain (2) who he calls “the three diamonds in our family’s necklace.” All funds will go directly towards the cost of their evacuation through the Egyptian border crossing with the only official company facilitating the process which charges 5,000 USD per adult and 2,500 USD per child.

Mahmoud’s enormous heart is matched only by his enormously funny sense of humor which he has somehow managed to hold onto during these heartbreaking days. Please read his desperate yet hopeful plea below.

*including initial only to protect his privacy

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Hello Everyone,

My name is Mahmoud and I am a pharmacist from Gaza City where I have worked hard and raised my family with my dear wife Arwa. We have been blessed with three beautiful children: Mohammed (11), Ward (10), and Zain (2). They are the light of our lives. We have given them the best we can, even as we have lived under siege for decades. Yet in spite of the traumatic backdrop of our lives, they are resilient children who are energetic, joyful, and full of dreams. Mohammed and Ward especially love karate, soccer, and swimming. They, of course, also love TV and video games but work hard and receive good grades in school. Zain is still young but his smile warms our hearts.

Mohammed winning 1st Rank in his school's soccer championship (top left); Mohammed and Ward during a karate show in school (top right); End of School Certificate Day (bottom left); Swimming in the sea near our house at 6AM (bottom right)

I have also always been involved in my community, helping with humanitarian efforts and facilitating them on the ground. Especially during COVID, I helped organize and distribute food and hygiene items to families in the most desperate need during the lockdown.

Yet while I have always done my best to help others, I am now in desperate need of help as we are facing unprecedented suffering and danger. We are stuck in an active war zone and have lost everything. It has all been bombed, destroyed, and taken from us—our home, neighborhood, livelihoods, safety, dignity, dreams, and almost our lives multiple times.

An image of our roof from a video taken by a neighbor (top left); Our beautiful home that we just built now destroyed (top right); Our once peaceful neighborhood in Gaza City now completely destroyed (bottom two pictures)

We fled our home in Gaza City in October as soon as we were told to do so. We went south to Nusseirat Refugee Camp, which was also soon under attack. Yet in spite of constant bombardments, our place of shelter was thankfully spared—although my middle son Ward narrowly escaped severe injury when the windows next to him completely shattered from the force of a nearby house being bombed.

Leaving our house in Gaza to Nusseirat refugee camp (top left); The kids sleeping on the floor in Nusseirat (top right); Zain crying as he can only fall asleep now with us as our children are traumatized and never feel safe alone (bottom, left and right)

When instructed, we then moved to Rafah and have been here in very bad conditions that are truly hard to describe. The city is unimaginably overcrowded, the humanitarian conditions are miserable and inhumane, and it's impossible to secure even our basic needs. There is no safety or security, no place secure from bombings or tanks, no shelter, terrible hygiene and health care (both of my oldest sons now have Hepatitis A due to the unsanitary conditions), no electricity, no fuel or cooking gasoline, no diapers or milk for the children, and it's hard to find even a little food such as flour or sugar (and it is 10x the normal price when you can find it).

In the truck that took us from Nusseirat refugee camp to Rafah with some of our things, including mattresses and luggage.

It is hard to even describe in words but is impossible to bear or tolerate. I never expected that we could ever live a reality worse than our worst nightmare but we are doing our best while trapped in a war zone where airstrikes and death are a daily reality, mass starvation is deepening, and an invasion into Rafah could happen anytime.

Me and Ward at the medical tent in Rafah where they diagnosed him with Hepatitis A.

I want to save my family and cross into Egypt where we have extended family we could stay with. But we cannot afford the evacuation fees having spent all of our savings over the past five months just trying to feed ourselves and find shelter.

But your generosity and support can make all the difference and every donation, no matter how small, can bring my family closer to safety and peace where we just want to live a normal life without wars, suffering and destruction and have our basic human needs met. Where our kids can learn and grow, enjoy life, and be loving human beings. We are peaceful people caught in a nightmare.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and considering supporting my family. Your care, kindness and compassion give me hope in these dark times.

With gratitude,

Mahmoud

Me, Arwa, Mohammed (11), Ward (10), and Zain (2) in happier times