Help Nadine & her family evacuate Gaza
I am Nadine Murtaja. I am 21 years old... My goal in life is to strive to live it by all means and to defend the Palestinian cause until my last breath in this life.
The following text is from a GoFundMe initiative to help a young writer and her family safely evacuate Gaza amid ongoing Israeli aggression:
I'm Nadine Murtaja, a 20-year-old writer from Gaza, and I'm reaching out to you with a story that reflects the pain and resilience of my journey. My earliest memories are tainted by the specter of war, a stark reality I encountered at the tender age of five. My life has been a series of battles, marked by the heart-wrenching loss of friends, neighbors, and classmates whom I held dear.
Despite the adversities, I found solace and strength in my family – a source of unwavering love, care, and support that fueled my dreams. However, as is often the case, war has repeatedly shattered the foundations of our aspirations, leaving us with little more than fragments of hope. Witnessing the toll it takes on my family, and their inability to provide the support they long to give, adds another layer of sorrow to my story.
The most devastating blow came on the 7th of October 2023, a day etched in my memory as the war that stole not just my home but my friends, my old school, and my cherished places, and transformed them into ruins. This war has been a relentless force, stripping away the very essence of the life I once knew.
My dream, a beacon of light in the darkness, is to become a skillful dentist. I remember pouring my heart into my studies during twelfth grade, creating a sanctuary in my room adorned with pictures and quotes that fueled my determination. However, the dream that fueled those late-night study sessions was brutally stolen by the Israeli occupation during the tragic events of that October.
This GoFundMe account is more than a plea for financial assistance; it's a narrative of resilience and hope. I share my story not only for myself but for others of my age who, like me, have seen everything they hold dear crumble. Your donation, regardless of its size, is a lifeline that can help me escape the confines of Gaza, pursue my dream in a college outside, and rebuild the life that was ruthlessly destroyed.
I acknowledge that your generosity may not save me from the perils of war, but it can be the key to unlocking a future where I can rebuild and stand tall once again. Your support can help me restore pride to my parents who have sacrificed so much for me.
PS: the costs of leaving Gaza and travel to Egypt are very expensive, so Any donations you made will make me, my parents and my little brother leave gaza and the remains money will make me study in one of Egypt's universities..
My friend in NY will receive this money on his bank account, then he will send the money back to me *because this website doesn't work in Gaza*
Thank you for being a part of my journey, and for being the hope that propels me forward.
The following text and poem by Nadine Murtaja originally was published in the New York War Crimes, a project by Writers Against the War on Gaza:
I am Nadine Murtaja. I am 21 years old. I am a dentistry student, but the war prevented me from completing my studies due to the destruction of universities by the Israeli occupation. I have been practicing my hobby, which is writing, since I was 16 years old. My goal in life is to strive to live it by all means and to defend the Palestinian cause until my last breath in this life.
And if the death
does not suffocate me
the smoke will
carrying memories, screams
the remains of families
from years ago
smoke that announces
the burial of a new civil record
into a mutilated grave.
I now fear counting
I fear numbers will turn
in my head
I count stars
only to realize
they are warplanes
delivering souls
to their final abode.
When my mother saw a bright white light,
she told me
tenderly
what a dazzling star it was.
Until the light departed,
stealing more voices
from the streets.
translation by Fatema
Help Nadine & her family evacuate Gaza: https://www.gofundme.com/f/mrv2dj-complete-my-dream-to-become-a-dentist
WV Holler links: https://linktr.ee/hollerwestvirginia