GazaSpiderman

We are falling behind again, and I’m honestly feeling very disheartened.

We are now three days behind on what we needed to cover last week, and we are already supposed to be fundraising for the coming week. We need to raise another $750 by Wednesday, Thursday at the very latest, and realistically, we need closer to $800 to cover the remaining shortfall from last week as well as the coming week’s needs.

A good portion of this money goes toward Ahmed’s evacuation savings, while the rest covers food and basic necessities. We also have to account for transfer fees and broker fees, which eat into the money we raise. I am hoping we can get the remaining $50 from last week covered today so we can start this new week without carrying that deficit forward again.

I truly need everyone to do whatever they can to help us through these coming weeks. Because at this point, it is not just about survival anymore. It is about trying to get Ahmed out of Gaza as soon as possible.

I wish we could raise larger amounts and move toward that goal much faster. I wish we could finally get ahead instead of constantly struggling to cover the bare minimum. But even that has become so difficult lately, and I cannot explain how anxious I am about the time we are losing.

For those who may not fully understand what we are working toward, Ahmed needs around $10,000 or more to have a chance of leaving Gaza through one of the routes available to him. One possibility we are hoping for is for him to leave as a companion to someone who is seriously ill or injured and is being permitted to leave Gaza for medical reasons.

I want to clarify that this is not about Ahmed's own injury qualifying him to leave. It is about finding someone who is able and willing to take him as their companion. Unfortunately, this can come at an extremely high cost. The person leaving has to make difficult decisions about who they can take with them, and agreeing to take a companion can mean giving up the opportunity to get another family member or someone else out. The money offered may be what allows them to support their family still trapped inside Gaza or sustain themselves after reaching safety. It is a devastating reality, but it is the reality people are facing.

I know how desperate our situation is, but I also know that other people are fighting to save their families and survive circumstances just as devastating. I do not say this to judge anyone who is trying to survive. It is simply the reality of what it can take to find a way out.

The amount required can vary depending on the circumstances, and there is no guarantee that Ahmed will find someone willing and able to take him. Some people have managed to leave through scholarships, but even people who secured scholarships and demonstrated that they had the money to travel have faced serious obstacles. Some of Ahmed's own friends have managed to leave through different opportunities, and that is one of the reasons we are still holding on to hope that a way might open up for him, too.

I want us to be prepared if that opportunity comes. I do not want Ahmed to find someone willing to help him leave only for us to be unable to act because we do not have the money ready. I am frightened that if we wait too long, the possibilities available now may become even more limited or disappear altogether. We cannot assume these routes will remain open.

That is why every dollar matters. I do not want to compromise on what we send each week because that means Ahmed has to go without something else. It means less money for food, less money toward evacuation, or having to cover fees out of money he already desperately needs. There is so little room to cut anything further, and time is not on our side. Things continue to get worse, and I struggle to see how any of this will become easier if we keep falling behind.

I will also be honest about something that has been weighing heavily on me. It is deeply disheartening to see people who identify as pro-Palestine find so many reasons not to help Palestinians who are still inside Palestine, while readily supporting people elsewhere. I am not talking about those who genuinely cannot afford to give or those who are barely managing to get by themselves. I understand that reality, and I would never want anyone to put themselves in hardship to help us. I am talking about people who have the means to help but simply choose not to make the effort. I do not think I will ever understand that disconnect.

Still, I keep going. I keep trying, even when I feel exhausted and discouraged, because with all my heart, I want Ahmed to have a future beyond survival. I want him to have the chance to leave Gaza, to be safe, and to finally have the opportunity to rebuild his life. I want us to be able to work toward something more than just getting through one more week.

And I know I cannot do this alone.

To everyone who continues to show up, read the updates, donate, share, and remind us that people still care, thank you. Truly. I do not know what I would do without you. I do not know what Ahmed would do without you. Your support has made a real difference in his life, and some of you have continued standing beside him through so much uncertainty and so many difficult weeks. You are genuinely some of the kindest people, and I hope you know how much your continued support means to both of us.

If you cannot donate right now, please consider sharing this fundraiser with someone who might be able to help. Send the link to a friend, share it with your network, or help us reach people who may be willing to contribute. And if you have the ability to fundraise in any way, even on a small scale, please consider doing so. Fundraising on my own is incredibly difficult, and I desperately need more people helping me carry this forward. I cannot keep doing all of this alone, and I need help finding ways to reach more people.

For this coming week, around 30 people giving $25 each would bring us $750 closer to covering what Ahmed needs. If you can give $25, please consider doing so. If you can give more, it would help us move faster. If you cannot donate, sharing this update or helping us fundraise could make a real difference, too.

I am trying so hard to keep us moving forward, but I am genuinely anxious about how much time is passing. I wish we could do more than barely cover the essentials every week. I wish we could raise enough to give Ahmed a real chance at leaving much sooner, instead of constantly worrying about whether we will even manage to cover the next round of necessities.

Thank you for continuing to care about him, for continuing to read these updates, and for not letting his situation become something people simply scroll past. Thank you for helping him survive this long and for giving us reasons to keep hoping for more.

Please help us get through this week, but please also help us keep moving toward getting Ahmed out of Gaza. I want him to have the chance to leave while there is still a chance to take.