By Hannah Saunders

The United Nations has declared there to be a famine in Gaza, and every second counts for all 2.1 million people there— of which 90% are displaced. Israel completely halted all humanitarian aid from entering Gaza from March to May, and since, has allowed such little aid in that it has created the forced starvation of Palestinians. Mahdi, a 24-year-old physical therapist in Gaza, has been fighting to obtain food and medicine to feed his family and keep them alive. 

“When night falls, the sound of gunfire rises louder than anything else. Fear and terror fill our hearts and bodies. At times, I stop and ask myself: Will we survive? Will we all make it out alive?” Mahdi asked.

“Will my father be able to travel and save his sight before he loses it completely? Will there ever be a day when I can live in peace, calm, and safety— without fear of hunger, bullets and bombing?

“Will there come a day when I can sleep peacefully— without fear, without anxiety, without waking up terrified after only minutes because of bullets flying over my head?”

Mahdi is living in a displacement tent with his mother who is sick, his father who is losing his vision in one eye after having gone completely blind in the other, and his brother and sister. The young man has taken on the responsibility of seeking and obtaining food and medicine for his family, whose health detoriorates in front of him, while military violence of Israeli forces is rampant; Mahdi’s cousin was recently shot in his arm and safely made it out of surgery. 

Over the past week, Israeli forces have been increasing their attacks in Gaza City, despite Hamas agreeing to another ceasefire proposal, which calls for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 10-living captives and 18 bodies held by Hamas, in exchange for Israel’s release of approximately 200 Palestinians. 

For almost two years, Israel has waged a genocide on Palestinians under falsehoods of releasing Israeli hostages (Israel has rejected or broken numerous ceasefire agreements before) and destroying Hamas, but experts state Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to end the violence is because of his desire to land grab. 

“Imagine waking up and going to sleep every single day with your heart in pain— not for a week, not a month, but for nearly two years. A heart heavy with grief, fear, and helplessness,” Mahdi said. “Pain not just from hunger or danger, but from watching your loved ones suffer while you can do nothing. The pain of silence, and the pain of screaming with no one hearing you. Imagine living for two years while your heart quietly breaks every single moment.” 

Despite thousands of global protests and the upcoming Global Sumud Flotilla movement, Mahdi, like many others, has run out of hope. Palestinians are only eating about 250 calories of food per day, if lucky, and Mahdi fears his father’s vision will be lost completely and that his mother’s sickness will worsen. 

Mahdi faces death traps set up by so-called humanitarian aid sites— where Israeli forces massacre starving Palestinians who are trying to obtain lifesaving food and aid. Due to what little aid is being allowed into Gaza, the costs are exorbitant, with one pound of flour costing about $60. 

Many in Gaza are without work or sources of income, and have no other option to rely on crowdfunding through GoFundMe, and following transaction fees combined with other financial factors, Mahdi is barely able to afford flour, let alone medicine for his parents. 

Direct action is needed now more than ever. Donate to Mahdi’s GoFundMe now to help him and his family stay alive.