Urgent: Help Walaa and her Family Evacuate Gaza

Jonathan Shapiro is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

**Update** The situation has gotten even more dire and the risk is at an all time high with the ground invasion imminent. If there is a time to give and give generously, it is now.

Please see the FAQ below for more information -

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qldp2-OEshmNW-Pa-RgL88pJgxMkCj_XyFSn7JNex5E

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Hello

My name is Walaa Abd Albari and I am writing to you from Gaza. I have already survived five attacks on Gaza by the forces of the Israeli occupation. The most recent was during this current invasion: I was awakened by the shaking of the building as it was bombed and had to escape through fire and falling rubble.

I now live in a tent in Rafah with my family (father, mother, 5 sisters, and 2 brothers). Members of the family have been injured and we are in need of medical treatment and food. Those necessities are luxuries now in Gaza where people are simply struggling not to be torn to pieces or turned to ashes by the Israeli attacks.

My life has been totally turned upside down since this invasion started, and now my only dream is that my family and I escape alive.

This letter is an urgent appeal for the money that will allow me to evacuate my family from Gaza before they are martyred by Israeli occupation bombings.

My family has been severely affected by these bombings. We fled our building, running out with nothing in the dead of night, only to have the next house collapse upon us. We were pulled from the rubble wounded. Seeking shelter at a hospital, we encountered a terrible scene of suffering. Breathing toxic fumes and sleeping on bare ground, we sheltered at the hospital for 50 days.

Adding to our distress, just two weeks ago we lost our only source of income: my father's small shop was obliterated by bombings. In a final devastating blow, on the 21st of December our home on Al-Shatea was bombed along with the entire residential area.

My family is suffering, grappling with severe illnesses without access to proper treatment or basic necessities. My father's heart condition requires multiple daily medications. We are now homeless, without income, and uncertain about our survival amidst this genocide.

Israeli bombs are falling everywhere in Gaza. No place is safe, no one is safe, neither Muslims nor Christians. Churches, mosques, schools, houses, streets, even cemeteries have all been bombed.

I am launching this fundraiser to be able to evacuate my family from Gaza through the Rafah/Egypt border crossing. That crossing currently requires a $6000 fee per person. This is the only way to survive.

I am deeply touched by the support of my international friends, and I humbly request your assistance now more than ever.

Thank you.

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My name is Jonathan Shapiro (based in New York), I am supporting Walaa and her family by creating a fundraising platform to secure funds. Wala is a part of a peace program bringing together young women from Gaza and Israel, which is how I was originally connected with her and her family. Since then, it has been wonderful to get to know her better and work together to raise the funds required to escape Gaza for her family, including children who are 9, 11, 14, 16 and 18 years old.

As we are actively raising the money, I am responsible for sending the money directly to the family for support as needed as well as to Walaa's aunt in Egypt who is coordinating the escape through the Ya Hala tourism company. Additionally, I have the support of a grassroots Gaza evacuation projects that have successfully supported over 100 people escape Gaza.

A few photos Walaa wanted to share -

Her younger brother and sister: