Gaza’s Survival Depends on Our Steadfastness

None of us wanted to believe this could happen again. After nearly two months of a fragile ceasefire, mass destruction and loss of life have returned to Gaza. It may feel familiar, but each new wave of violence is worse than the last — compounding the devastation and deepening the challenges. While much remains uncertain, one thing is not: we must once again rise to the moment and stand with those who are doing all they can just to survive.

This latest wave of bombings is especially intense, hitting nearly every part of Gaza (read our statement). And it comes after more than two weeks of a complete halt in aid. Already, hospitals are overwhelmed trying to treat the injured with critically low stocks of supplies. The small number of hospitals and clinics that can treat the injured are fighting against an increasingly low supply of medicines and healthcare items, doing their best with what little they have after 18 months of destruction. Doctors are once again working in unimaginable conditions. The needs are urgent.

Anera’s teams in Gaza and beyond are preparing to respond. We are anticipating needs based on our life-saving interventions over the last 18 months, including previous halts in aid. We know what primary needs on the ground will be in response to the current blockade and, more importantly, we know how to meet them. Our teams are preparing to send medicines, food, and shelter supplies into Gaza as soon as they’re able, but we need your help.

Supplies MUST be secured, trucks MUST be loaded, and aid MUST be ready to distribute as soon as it is possible. There can be no delay between the lift of the blockade and the distribution of aid. Every moment of hesitation is a risk to the health of those who have survived over 18 months of war.

Over the last 18 months many concepts central to the Palestinian identity have become common knowledge. Perhaps no other concept has become as well known as samoud (صمود) or steadfastness. We often hear about samoud in terms of Palestinians’ commitment to their homeland, to the understanding that they will remain rooted in their communities no matter the challenges. But I would like to extend this concept beyond Palestinians. I am asking for your steadfastness. For your steadfastness in believing in and supporting the survival of the 2 million Palestinians of Gaza. For your steadfastness in supporting the life-saving work Anera has done and continues to do in Palestine.

Now is not the time to lose hope. As long as our brothers and sisters in Gaza remain, there is work to be done. Your donation today will ensure Anera is ready to deliver immediate aid to Gaza as soon as the blockade is lifted. There can be no additional delays of the life-saving medical, food and housing supplies needed. Every second matters.

Solidarity, hope, steadfastness, survival — these are all interconnected actions. Our steadfastness in our hope for and our solidarity with the people of Palestine is directly linked to the hope, steadfastness and survival of those going through the unimaginable.

Thank you.