Support Hamza's Survival and Recovery in Gaza

Hi, my name is Noor, and I’m raising funds for Hamza Al-Raqab, who is quadriplegic and currently trapped in the Gaza Strip. Hamza’s condition has made surviving the ongoing devastation in Gaza even harder. Unlike many others who have been forced to flee, he is unable to easily move or relocate due to his paralysis. On top of that, the lack of electricity, medical care, and basic necessities like food and water, has made everyday life a constant struggle.

Below, in his own words, Hamza shares his journey and why he urgently needs your support:

Hamza's Story

"Donate so I can survive and return to the life I once had before the war."

Since I was a child, I was passionate about horseback riding, football, and exercising. These were my dreams. But in 2005, everything changed.

One night, while sitting on the roof of my house around 11 p.m., I suddenly fell asleep and moments later lost my balance. I fell from the second floor, landing headfirst on the asphalt. I was unconscious for about 30 minutes. When I came to, I didn’t understand what had happened—I couldn’t move my hands or feet. At first, I thought it was because of the fall, but I quickly realized it was something much worse. My voice was too weak to call for help, and I could do nothing but wait until morning.

My grandfather found me and called an ambulance. I was alive, but when the doctors at Nasser Hospital in Gaza ran tests, they told me I had suffered a severe spinal cord injury, which left me paralyzed. My dreams were shattered, and my life as I knew it was over. I cried, my family cried, and I felt like my future was lost.

I was transferred to Tel Shomer Hospital in Jerusalem for treatment, and then later to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza for physical therapy. The next two years were the hardest of my life. But I didn't give up. When I was finally discharged and returned home, I was determined to adapt to my new reality. I made my room as comfortable as possible, bought solar panels to power my air mattress to prevent bedsores (since Gaza’s electricity is often cut off for hours at a time), and found ways to live independently.

From 2007 until October 7, 2023, I managed to live a somewhat normal life, despite the challenges. But when the war broke out, everything changed again. My home was destroyed, and I was forced to move from one shelter to another, living in tents and enduring unimaginable suffering. The area where I lived was eventually declared a humanitarian zone, so I returned to what was left of my house, hoping for some stability. But when I arrived, all I found was rubble. My solar panels, my bed, my bathroom—everything I had worked so hard to make my life bearable—was gone.

Now, I am left with nothing. My life has become a constant struggle, and I feel lost and helpless. But I am not giving up on my dream of rebuilding. I want to restore my home, my equipment, and my dignity.

I ask for your help with all my heart. The cost of rebuilding and getting the medical supplies and equipment I need is far beyond my means, but with your support, I believe we can restore my life and give me the chance to live again.

Please donate if you can. Your generosity will help me rebuild my life, piece by piece, and give me the chance to move forward, just as I always dreamed of.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

The funds will transferred periodically so Hamza can afford daily essentials such as catheter bags, and other medical equipment, and physical therapy. Additionally it will go towards buying warm clothing and blankets, and food. These more general necessities will be shared with Hamza's family members-- he lives inside his demolished home with his parents and 4 siblings who care for him. Thank you to everyone for your generosity and support!