Help Mourtaja Family Escape War in Gaza

From my friend, Mohammad Mourtaja:

"Dear Kind Hearts,

My family is now in Rafah city, their 4th shelter during this war, trying to survive bombings and hunger. But their safety is not guaranteed because of the looming invasion of Rafah. I hope you can help me in facilitating this urgent mission to provide my family with a safe passage to Egypt to escape the devastating war in Gaza.

My name is Mohammed Mourtaja, a Palestinian from Gaza, currently studying economics at Washington and Lee University. I left Gaza in 2021, and I was never able to visit it after that. Today, I reach out with a heavy heart, seeking your help during the most harrowing time my family has ever faced.

For many decades, my family lived peacefully in our family house, in El-Tuffah neighborhood east of Gaza City. However, the outbreak of war on October 7th made that peace vanish, forcing my family to live the worst nightmare. Amidst the war, they have been forced to flee not once, but 4 times. Now, they are facing the threat of evacuating for a fifth time, but this time, there are no remaining shelters. We hope you can help us with this crowdfunding to help my family escape the horror of this war.

Before the war, my family lived in our house, where my parents took care of my grandparents, 75 and 82. My mother, who studied English literature, was my first teacher. She taught me English, which enabled me later to apply for scholarships in the United States. I would never be able to be here without her. My dad, who studied law, was my rock, ensuring my health and education. My grandparents’ presence in my life has been constant and amazing. My grandmother gave me my name and always cooked my favorite meals. My grandfather woke me up to school after his prayers early in the morning and always made sure to instill morality in me by remembering the past. Without them, I would not be here today. The least I can do is ensure their safety.

Our neighborhood is near the border, which is considered a dangerous area, so my parents & grandparents escaped to my aunt’s house. It was not long before the Israeli army told everyone in West Gaza to leave. My parents left that day not knowing where to go. They need a place where my grandparents can be able to go to the bathroom. After hours, my friend was able to host him in KhanYounies. They stayed for one night. That place was later destroyed.

My family stayed in the Nusseriat refugee camp for several weeks, where they miraculously survived a nearby shelling. The shrapnel of the bombing entered the room where they stayed, but thankfully, it did not strike any of them.

Photo taken by my father from the window of their shelter in Nusseriat camp.

Then, my parents had to leave for Rafah, where they are now staying at my father’s friend's house. Since then, my parents have been doing their best to provide food and water for themselves and my grandparents. But Israel is about to invade Rafah. This is the last safe place my parents can shelter. During this time, we knew that our neighborhood, where my family lived for decades, was mostly annihilated by a 2000-pound bomb.

Your donations will directly support the evacuation of my beloved family to Egypt, covering the costs of safe passage through the Rafah crossing border. Then, my family will stay in Egypt until the war is over.

Cost details:

Parents and grandparents evacuation: $24000 - 6K each

Egypt living expenses for 5 months: $3000

GoFundMe fees: $2000

Bank Transfer Fee: $1,000

Sincerely,

Mohammed Mourtaja"