Newsletter from Gaza- September 25

I hope you are well, considering the circumstances.

 

I must admit that I am not feeling well myself.

 

The last month has been exceptionally hard for everyone who is closely connected to people in Gaza. The attacks on the civilian, unarmed population were ramped up. Reports reached us about whole apartment buildings being bombed to ashes, while the inhabitants received a 15-minute warning to leave the building with as little as they could carry. Those who were not fast enough were killed. Attacks on hospitals, medical professionals, and journalists became the norm- even though each of these attacks is against international law and considered a war crime.  None of us will be able to grasp what it means that an estimated 64,522 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza alone, representing 2.9 % of the population, with studies suggesting that this is a vast underreporting.

 

163,096 people are estimated to have been injured in Israeli attacks since              7. October 2023, and since 22. August 2025, starvation was officially declared after an intense period of famine.

 

An additional threat caused a lot of fear and panic in the past weeks: evacuation orders that were dropped from warplanes for Gaza City and the surrounding areas. Gaza City, with its pre-war estimated population of 650,000, was once the bustling centre of Gaza. Now, the city has been substantially decimated to dust in just days. 

 

But where should people go?

The so-called safe zones are filled with families living in tents. There is no land space, drinking water, food, or infrastructure for hundreds of thousands of additional people, all of whom suffer from malnutrition, have health issues, are emotionally traumatised, and are exhausted from this relentless war. The Gaza Strip is a small territory, measuring 41 km (25 miles) in length and 6 to 12 km (3.7 to 7.5 miles) in width, totalling 365 square kilometres (141 square miles), which was famously one of the most densely populated places on earth.

 

These evacuation orders allow only 12% of Gaza’s territory to be populated by Palestinians, the native population!  

 

We are not well. None of us is well.

We are witnessing atrocities against humanity and feel helpless.

While our efforts may seem like just a drop in the ocean, at least they are this famous drop. 

Thank you to all who donated and shared this newsletter with their networks, enabling me to reach more people who care. Please remind your friends to hit the subscription button if they want to receive further updates

Last month, our joint donations totalled 2,079 euros (approximately $2,430 USD).

 

Thank you all so much for your support! 

 

I was able to distribute the money according to the individual needs. Mohammad received a significant portion to support the LifeLine Pharmacy. Additional support went to Sami, Mohammad, Mahmoud, and Darin to ensure their survival. 

Some of you experienced challenges in transferring donations. I thank you for your patience and efforts until I was able to resolve this issue.

As donations are made from all over the world, not all banking systems are compatible everywhere. Please check which methodology is suitable for your region and contact me if you have difficulties. The new donations page provides guidance as to which way might work for you.

Update on Sami

Last month, Sami, who lives in southern Gaza, took us to the market, where he showed us what was available and the unbelievably high prices of food (e.g., potatoes, $35 per kilo). Sami is an exceptionally kind, helpful, and positive young man. At the age of 20, he is the oldest child in his family and takes care of everyone while pursuing his engineering studies at night. 

Sami and his 17-member extended family (grandparents, uncle and aunt with family) live in tents in southern Gaza in what was declared a “safe zone”. Just some days ago, a bomb blast was reported in the news where children were killed at a food distribution point- this was close to Sami. I have been chatting daily with Sami for many months now, and he is always positive and strong, raising funds to support his family, especially his younger sister, who requires a specific antibiotic every month. 

Last week, Sami had a severe infection, fever, and was exhausted, and when I received the text “ I will die,” I was frightened- how to help him. Fortunately, he was able to visit a health point and received antibiotics.  However, these visits are expensive - he spent $60 on transportation and medicine. It took days before he felt better, and the fever was gone. 

 

As people from the north have to leave their homes and shelters, the south gets overcrowded, and tents and other supplies run out.

Sami was so kind and agreed to check tent prices and spaces for me,  so we could see how to support the friends from the north who received an evacuation order. 

On 9 September, tents cost 2,500 Shekels (approximately $750 USD) for an Egyptian tent (which is not suitable for winter), and 3,500 Shekels (approximately $1,150 USD) for a German tent. But they sell out quickly, and are not available at all in the north of Gaza anymore, as literally everyone in Gaza now has to live in tents. The tent shortage was exaggerated due to Israel’s complete blockade of shelter materials, including tents, which was lifted only partially at the end of August.

Update on Mohammad

Through August, Dr. Mohammad continued to offer counselling at his LifeLine pharmacy in northern Gaza and provided medicines at a 30% reduced price. With our donations, we contributed to an event day where he distributed baby formula free of charge to those in need. Many children, mothers, and families gratefully received this donation, a real “LifeLine” amongst the severe lack of any baby supplies.

 

However, weeks ago, after the first announcements of the evacuation orders, Mohammad told me about the increasing frequency of attacks close to the pharmacy, while recently, a girl was shot at right in front of it.

As the fighting came closer to where he lives, we discussed numerous times that it would be safer for him to leave for the south. But two things kept him worried:

 

1) Where to go with his family? He would need to buy a tent and find space to pitch it 

 

2) What will happen with the patients who depend on his pharmacy and medical treatment?

I connected Mohammad with Sami, who kindly agreed to explore if we could find a space for Mohammad’s tent. But- all spaces are full, tents are stacked next to each other, and even on the beach, tents are placed 1 meter away from the Mediterranean waterline. In addition to the lack of space, we need to explore if Mohammad could actually evacuate 30 km south to Sami, as he would have to cross declared military zones with increased risk for bombs, snipers, and drone attacks. 

On 8 September at midnight, Mohammad’s Lifeline pharmacy was hit by a bomb and destroyed. Nothing is left. I know he was crying when he messaged me- so was I.

It's time for him to go south. I don't know where to, but staying is death for sure.

Please meet Mahmoud

Mahmoud, like Mohammad and many others who live in the north, has to evacuate to have a chance to survive. Mahmoud is 19 years old and carries a huge responsibility alongside his brother, as they take care of their five sisters and the brother’s two children.

 

In our daily conversations, he shared with me the difficulties he faced in finding food. The food on the market is too expensive, and the food distribution sites pose dangers ranging from drone and quadcopter attacks on aid seekers to being squeezed by the number of people trying to grab at least something of the rare, life-saving goods. 

His biggest dream is to become a dentist, and he is worried that his chance may be gone forever. Unfortunately, due to the war, the final school exams were postponed by nearly two years. When the exam dates were announced about four weeks ago, Mahmoud sat down anxiously and studied, dedicated, passionately, with drones hovering above him, loud and relentlessly, while surveilling Gaza’s sky.

Life is hard in Gaza! How can anyone focus on studying when bombs drop, friends get killed, their own body shows signs of malnutrition, and an evacuation order threatens to lose everything? Ironically, shortly after the exam had started, it was announced to be postponed due to interference in the online exam from outside of Gaza.

 

As the streets in northern Gaza are clearing up of people, as everyone who had the ability to leave left, Mahmoud and his family are still stuck. Transport for the family with exhausted and malnourished children costs 800 USD. Until now, he hasn't found an answer to the question of where to stay and find shelter in the South. 

 

Also, Darin, the lovely pharmacy student, received an evacuation order. There is nowhere for her and her family to go. Like many others, Darin and her family have been displaced several times. This time, they decided to stay and wait. 

For now. 

September marks the month of the annual United Nations General Assembly, including UN Security Council meetings. I hope and pray for a miracle to happen: the miracle that the world leaders wake up and recognise the will of their people, that they not only celebrate the achievements of 80 years of the United Nations and Human Rights, but that they start acting on these and ensure that everyone on this planet has the same rights, the Human Rights!

 

Please help me support these wonderful people in Gaza. Each donation, no matter the amount, will make a difference. 

We urgently need money for tents, transportation, food, medicine, and basic hygiene products. 

 

Let's stand up for humanity! 

Our support saves lives.

 

We are the millions. 

luna@healingforhumanity.world

 

 

for more information visit our website:       healingforhumanity.world