A War That Changed My Life Forever
The Story of Mohammed Dawood from Gaza
My name is Mohammed Dawood. I am 20 years old, and I am from Gaza.
In June 2023, I graduated from high school with distinction. A few months later, in September 2023, I joined the Faculty of Engineering at university. I was full of hope and dreams for my future. I believed that my life was finally beginning, and that after years of hard work, I would be able to build a better future for myself and my family.
But I did not wait long before everything changed.
On October 7, 2023, the war began. For us in Gaza, that date became a nightmare that we will never forget. It was the beginning of hell. The bombing, fear, destruction, and loss changed every detail of our lives. Until today, this date still haunts us and remains one of the hardest memories we carry.
As the attacks intensified, my family was forced to move to the south of Gaza after evacuation orders were issued by the Israeli army. They lived in tents under extremely difficult conditions. Meanwhile, I remained alone in the besieged north of Gaza.
Life in the north was unbearable. We suffered from severe famine, lack of medical care, and endless dangers. One of the worst moments was the famine at the beginning of 2024. Food became scarce, prices rose dramatically, and people struggled every day just to survive.
Education also completely collapsed. Universities and schools stopped functioning. Many educational buildings were bombed or turned into shelters for displaced families. My university life, which had only just begun, suddenly disappeared.
Then, in the middle of 2024, I lost my brother. This was one of the hardest moments of my life and a major turning point for me. After his death, I became the only person responsible for taking care of my family. I had to carry the burden of supporting them alone while also trying to continue my education and pay university expenses.
At the beginning of 2025, universities attempted to return through online learning. However, even this became another challenge because of the constant electricity cuts and weak internet connection. Studying under these conditions felt almost impossible.
Until today, the suffering in Gaza continues. Despite agreements that were supposed to end the war, the bombing has resumed again. Just yesterday, a kitchen that distributed food to displaced families in southern Gaza was bombed.
In addition, humanitarian aid and essential supplies are still being restricted. Many humanitarian organizations have stopped operating because they no longer receive enough supplies to continue their work.
One of the most painful examples is the World Central Kitchen operation in Gaza. Previously, it prepared nearly one million meals every day. Today, it produces only around 200,000 meals daily and has terminated the contracts of nearly 500 employees due to the lack of supplies entering Gaza.
Many people ask me: where did the idea of starting a donation campaign come from?
At the beginning of the war, my family owned small businesses and shops. However, they were destroyed along with our home during the bombing. After losing my father, we lost all sources of income.
A friend of mine from Italy suggested that I start an online donation campaign. At first, I completely refused because I felt ashamed to ask people for help. I never imagined that one day I would be forced to do this.
But with the support and donations we received, I was able to provide food, water, clothes, and basic necessities for my family. I was also able to pay part of my university fees and continue trying to pursue my education despite everything.
For me, these donations are not only financial support. They represent something much bigger: human solidarity. Every donation and every message of support sends us a reminder that the people of Gaza are not alone.
And perhaps this is the most important thing we still hold onto — the feeling that somewhere in this world, there are still people who care.
You can donate to help Mohammed via Chuffed.