My name is Sonia, and from my home in California, I am reaching out across the world with a desperate plea for help. I am organizing this fundraiser for Mahmoud, a man I came to know through a mutual friend in Gaza. His story is one of profound courage and unbearable hardship, and now, he is fighting for his life.

Mahmoud first reached out to me not just for himself, but in a final, desperate attempt to save his family. He is a husband, a father to a 10-month-old baby, and a son caring for his elderly parents. Amidst the chaos and terror of war, Mahmoud has been a beacon of hope for his community. Even while facing his own displacement and suffering, he has selflessly coordinated mutual aid—receiving and distributing vital supplies like food, water, and clothing to those around him who have lost everything.

Tragically, his mission of mercy was met with violence. While trying to help others evacuate to the south, Mahmoud was shot in the hip. A bullet remains lodged there, causing him immense pain and requiring urgent surgery. There are no functioning hospitals left in Gaza that can help him. His only chance is to travel outside of Gaza for the lifesaving operation he so desperately needs.

But the border is closed, and the cost of crossing and subsequent medical care is a sum he could never afford. Now, this brave man who helped so many is trapped, his body failing him. He needs our help to survive, to provide the most basic necessities for his family, and to buy the diapers and milk his infant child needs to live.

Despite his own dire circumstances, Mahmoud's spirit remains unbroken; he still dreams of continuing his work to aid his community. But first, he must live.

We can be the lifeline he so desperately needs. Your donation will go directly towards:

Emergency medical funds for his critical hip surgery.

Basic survival for his family of five: food, clean water, shelter, and essentials for his baby.

Please, do not look away. In a place where hope is scarce, your contribution can be the difference between life and death. Share this story, give whatever you can, and help us bring Mahmoud and his family to safety.

Thank you for your compassion and for being a light in their darkest hour.