Through the Static

By Hannah Saunders

The Israeli government is in the extermination phase of its almost two-year genocide against Palestinians, and is blocking humanitarian aid like food and medicine: People are collapsing and dying from hunger amidst ongoing bombings and massacres by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), leading Mahdi to fear for his and his family’s survival. 

Mahdi is a 24-year-old physical therapist in Gaza who’s been volunteering at the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah and is the head of a family of five. He is raising funds to help get his family and father, who is going blind, out of Gaza— and at minimum, afford what little food is available. 

“My family and I are living through unbearable hunger— days pass with no food, no medicine, and certainly no tomorrow. The cries of children echo through the night, and the pain of helplessness is crushing us,” Mahdi told Through the Static. 

His father was born with vision challenges and would take medicine that relieved pain, but he has been without it for 10 months due to the Israeli occupation and its refusal to allow the entry of aid. As a result, Mahdi’s father’s eyesight is rapidly declining, and Mahdi believes Gaza is on the brink of collapse without vital aid. 

Many Palestinians are without jobs and a source of income, yet they are still forced to pay for food due to shortages. One kilogram of tomatoes in Gaza costs $16USD, according to UNICEF USA. 

People of all ages are dying from forced starvation, including babies. 

“The truth is, the situation has become unbearable,” Mahdi said. “Hunger has drained our bodies, and imagine hunger combined with nonstop bombing and constant fear from everything around us.” 

Mahdi is asking for people to spread his message and donate to his GoFundMe page if possible. 

“We are not just struggling, we are starving. We are broken. And we need help before it’s too late,” Mahdi said.