Help our Friend in Gaza

Dear Friends,

We are Ala’, Cyrine, and Shannon, based in Jordan, Syria and Switzerland. In light of the unspeakable horrors that have been happening in Gaza since October and the continuous deterioration of the situation - with growing fear of a ground invasion in Rafah - we decided to team up and start this fundraiser for a dear friend of ours in Gaza, whom we will refer to as Adam. We aim to raise enough money to get him out of Gaza. Evacuating somebody into Egypt over the Rafah crossing is no easy task, but we acknowledged that there is no other way to save our friend. Raising the necessary money - primarily to pay a fee of approximately USD 13k to cross the border into Egypt - is the first (and perhaps the easiest) step. This is where we need your support.

Who is our Friend in Gaza?

We all met Adam independently of each other, but we all came away with the same feeling after getting to know him: Adam is an extremely smart young person with a huge heart, an even greater sense of justice, and a bright future ahead. Last summer, Adam finished his BA in International Law from Al-Azhar University in Gaza City – an institution, like all universities and other facilities including hospitals, that has been demolished and does not exist anymore today. Over the past several years, he has worked with different international NGOs. He has been a very active part of different local civil society organisations in Gaza that serve the community.

Since October, Adam has been displaced several times. From his home in Jabalia in the North of Gaza – where his family house was bombed on October 20th – he evacuated first to Gaza City, then to Tal Al-Hawa, and then to Deir El-Balah, following the IOF’s claims that the southern part of Gaza was designated a safe zone for civilians. The southern part of Gaza was no safer than other places, leaving Adam and everyone with no refuge for safety. Adam always told us that everything was going to be alright despite the harsh reality he was living. This was until an airstrike hit his uncle’s home on February 21st, killing a dozen of his family members, including his 55 cousins, eight uncles, and six aunts. Those are not only numbers; they were his entire world and hope for life. Nine days later, Adam’s 12-year old cousin “Ahmed” was rescued from under the rubble, where he had been trapped without any food or water next to his dead relative. Some members of Adam’s family are still under the rubble until now.

It’s a nightmare. The situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, and we remain fearful for Adam’s safety. His mental and physical health is declining, and the chances of survival of the people in Gaza are waning. Convincing Adam to leave was a challenge. He did not want to leave his people behind. However, he acknowledged the importance of his crossing, ensuring that his contribution would have a lasting impact in aiding and supporting those left behind, including his family. Every day, our Gazan sisters and brothers and our Palestinian friends in the diaspora mourn the loss of loved ones - cousins, uncles, aunts, friends, and sometimes entire immediate families with dozens lost at once. Their futures are bright, yet they are in dire need of support to share their stories and bear witness to the ongoing genocide.

What is the Money for?

As widely known, the only way out of Gaza is to pay the Egyptians a fee – a royalty of several thousand dollars per person – to have your name listed at the Rafah crossing. This does not guarantee refuge but is the only means of escape. We have also included in our calculation transportation within Egypt, medical and psychological support for Adam, accommodation and daily expenses for about 2-3 months. We know that we will find solutions together with Adam for the time after that. But for now, our aim is to bring our dear friend to safety.

Our written words don't express the pain and horror happening in Gaza; we are left with no choice but to start this fundraising campaign while keeping our friend Adam safe by not revealing his true identity for many reasons. First, the situation in Gaza is tragic, not only from what we see on our screens but also from the hidden patterns of oppression and threats against Palestinians trying to escape. Our friend has received multiple direct threats since he is an activist and outspoken critic of human rights violations. To ensure transparency, we have agreed with Adam to reveal his identity once he safely crosses the Rafah border into Egypt.

Thank you for your support, and thank you for sharing this campaign with others.

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How do we know Adam?

Ala’: I met Adam during a conference in Amman organised by a UN agency around five years ago. He was invited to come to the stage and share his lifeful story and the impactful community work he does with youth in Gaza. Adam’s views and dedication to helping everyone around him and bringing hope to their lives impressed me. Since then, we have talked intensely through social platforms, building a distance friendship.

Cyrine: I crossed paths with Adam during an uplifting online gathering hosted by the Young Peers Organization on World Youth Day. Since then, our connection has blossomed into a heartfelt online friendship, leading us to plan to meet face-to-face eagerly. He was an unusually ambitious and clever individual, working in civil society, a role he continued even after the war started and despite injuries that left him in need of medical diagnosis not available in Gaza at the time. Adam aimed to pursue higher studies outside Gaza, a goal that leaves one speechless at how much a human can achieve with so few resources under such a harsh and inhumane siege.

Shannon: Adam and I met in Gaza in July 2021 during a meeting with PALThink for Strategic Studies, an independent Palestinian think tank that Adam was part of. He immediately impressed me with his views and ideas – and how he captured everybody’s heart with his infectious laugh. This was the beginning of our friendship. We met several times in Gaza - at a conference organised by UN Women, which Adam volunteered for, or when we sat together for a cup of tea at the Gaza beach. We have stayed in contact ever since. On 27 September2023, after Adam returned from a work trip in Jordan, we met again in Ramallah (West Bank), where we spent a wonderful evening with friends. Adam returned to Gaza on 28 September.