My Family is Trapped in Gaza. Help Me Get Them Out

My name is Rolla Alaydi. I am a U.S. citizen and a mom with a Ph.D. in Education.

I am reaching out to you with a heavy heart and a plea for help getting my family out of Gaza.

In November, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) bombed my brothers' home in Gaza City. Since then, my brothers along with their wives and a total of thirteen children, have been forced to relocate numerous times.

Up until last weekend, all of my family was sheltering in an overcrowded, unsanitary UNRWA shelter, which has since been bombed. At present, all of the family has split up across Rafah, a decision they made in order to limit the number of casualties. Their backs are against the wall, they are facing death every moment of the day and they have nowhere left to go.

One of my brothers is a cancer patient and has not had his treatments since the start of the war. My nieces and nephews, who have seen the dead bodies of many of their young cousins, frequently tell their parents they do not want to die. The family has little access to food and clean water. It is winter in Gaza and the fact that they are all without warm blankets and proper clothing haunts my thoughts.

The Arab American Civil Rights League (ACRL) is helping me pro bono with immigration filings to help my family escape imminent death and join me in the United States. Since the start of the war, I have been supporting all 21 members of my family in Gaza and the costs have been quickly adding up.

How would you feel, and what would you do, if this was your family?

Your contribution, no matter how small, towards filing fees and travel costs will make a significant impact on my family's chances of survival.

Thank you for your kindness, generosity, and compassion.

Sincerely, Rolla Alaydi

My niece: Haya

My niece: Ola

Ola and Haya

My nephew: loay