Mohammed Alfarra
Humanitarian | Coordinator of United for Gaza Charity
Student of Artificial Intelligence Engineering
My name is Mohammed Alfarra, born and raised in the city of Khan Younis, from the Gaza Strip in Palestine. I am currently 20 years old. I was having a wonderful time pursuing my bachelor’s degree in Artificial Intelligence Engineering at the Islamic University in Gaza. Sadly, all of the schools and universities in Gaza have been leveled to the ground.
Our displacement and evacuation journey began on the second day of the genocide. After being displaced several times, I had looked back now only to realize that this would be the last time our family set our eyes upon our house worth $500,000. My father, a dedicated pediatrician, worked tirelessly for 25 years to build our home, accumulating debt. However, we lost both our house and our car.
Just two weeks after evacuating from Khan Younis, the devastation became relentless. My cousin was killed. From that moment on, losing loved ones became a heartbreakingly regular reality. To this day, I still find it hard to believe that I have lost many members of my own family. I witnessed them beheaded in cold blood, and somehow, this horror has become our new normal.
One unforgettable night, in December of 2023, missiles rained down relentlessly, claiming many neighbors’ lives as we waited in terror. Thankfully, the next morning offered a chance to relocate to Rafah, where we lived in tents.
Four families moved together, uncertain and scared. A compassionate local resident generously offered his 300-square-meter land plot for us to set up our tents. The living conditions were harsh—extreme heat during the day and bitter cold at night.
Adding to all the continued suffering, this time I suffered severe burns on my face and hands from an oven explosion.
Amidst the ongoing chaos, plus my injury, we launched a nonprofit initiative to sell well-prepared delicious burgers with attention to hygiene. It was sold at a reasonable price until fresh meat became unavailable.
Later, it was time for another displacement, this time to Deir al-Balah. It was after two and a half months in Rafah that the danger increased, although life had slightly improved there. Soon, news reached us that our dear home was completely destroyed.
Days passed and upon visiting the ruins, I constantly reminded myself that despite these severe hardships, my family’s safety was the most important thing for me.
My father continued his critical work at Nasser Hospital for Children and Maternity, despite severe damage to his private clinic.
We managed to relocate the clinic temporarily to a tent by the sea in Khan Younis.
Betrayed in the Genocide: a victim of a fraud
On May 15, 2024, a fake merchant from Egypt impersonated a trusted friend of mine on Facebook, offering commission-free cash through cryptocurrency. After falsely confirming his identity via another fake profile, I completed transactions worth $7,400: $2,400 of which was for my family’s personal needs, and $5,000 allocated for a water project. This scam left me devastated, and just as I was about to be scammed again for an additional $10,000, I discovered the fraud in time and stopped.
This incident added to my continuing struggles, but I didn’t give up. I joined an NGO, and despite the setback, the water project was implemented successfully. Later, I left the NGO and joined hands with Othman Al-Zaq, becoming a core member and a coordinator for a charity initiative called United for Gaza.
Following the ceasefire, we repaired my aunt’s (a Canadian passport holder and resident) home to remain close to our original residence. An approximate $25,000 was spent on maintaining the house.
Unfortunately, this was followed by another evacuation order, forcing us into yet another displacement. As of now, we have no idea whether the keys to my aunt’s house are still useful or if the house itself is even standing or reduced to rubble.
Later, I was again caught in a devastating financial trap. I was asked to receive money from Egypt and deliver it to Gaza, something I agreed to do out of goodwill and commitment to helping my people. Egypt, however, has strict regulations when it comes to dollar transactions.I partnered with a man from Deir al-Balah named Abdul Rahman—an only son, married, with two children. We bonded over shared values and eventually agreed to work together. A formal contract was signed between us, and the plan was to sell goods with the proceeds going toward humanitarian needs.
However, things took a sharp turn. The man who was carrying the money—around $96,000—was caught in Egypt. Out of this amount, $35,000 was entrusted to me by donors. When the arrest happened, I was left devastated and accountable for that entire sum.
Eventually, Abdul Rahman’s father revealed that his son owed much more than he had originally admitted. Despite ongoing efforts, $23,000 is still unpaid. The rest was covered partially by a close friend of mine, who now must also be repaid.
This incident only deepened the financial burden on me, pushing my total debt to over $35,000. Yet, I have not stopped serving my people.
Today, I bear a debt exceeding $35,000. I’m sharing my story not for sympathy or even seeking financial assistance for food, water, electronic equipment, or rebuilding our lost home. Rather, this campaign is for clearing my debt. This debt of mine is such a grave concern that if it were to be paid off, then I can finally die in peace. This is one of many untold hardships happening to the residents of the Gaza Strip. God willing, through this campaign and the power of social media, I aim to share my story to empower others and raise awareness of the scams and fraud impacting people in Gaza—so others are spared from the same experience.
