The Social Justice Collective is holding a fundraiser at the Grange on Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m. to assist one of the many families, the AbuKhaleds, currently caught in the cross fire in Gaza.

“Americans feel existential cause fatigue. The crises we are facing in this country and through the world are many, however, it is still possible to make a difference even with what may seem like small, insignificant actions and contributions,” Sandy Strehlou wrote to the Journal. “Caring people can make a real on-the-ground difference in the struggle facing Gaza by joining our efforts to support the AbuKhaled family, a family that by circumstances beyond their control, is growing to include the orphaned children and elders of extended family.”

Canadian artist and writer Heather Spears, now deceased, was interested in the plight of Palestinians and traveled to Palestine in 1990 to draw children who had been injured or killed in the first Al-Aqsa Mosque Massacre. While she was there, she met a young medic named Mahmoud AbuKhaled, and they became friends. She remained in close contact with him over the years and would send funds to help Mahmoud and his family in Gaza. When Spears was diagnosed with cancer, her friends wanted to help carry on her correspondence with Mahmoud. The circle of friendship and support expanded to include Bill and Hallie Appel (San Juan Island), Michael Johnson (Orcas), Strehlou (SJI and Portland), and Margaret Slavin (Canada). This core group has been sending support and helping the family through crisis after crisis, and are now banding together to try to get the AbuKhaleds out of Gaza. The Social Justice Collective connected with this original group to raise awareness about the family.

Earlier in the summer, the AbuKhaled family consisted of twelve; six adults, and six under the age 17. Since then they have grown to a family of 20. Prior to Oct. 7, 2023, the father, Mahmoud reported to the Appel’s, Strehlou, Johnson and Slavin that life was difficult in Gaza but fairly normal. Children attended school, clinics were available, work was difficult to find but they had a house. The family moved four times that October alone. But moving is not the biggest challenge, water is.

“UN water is drinkable but very expensive, a 1000-liter bottle is 80 NIS,” he said. This is approximatel the equivalent of $20, US. Elsewhere a 1.5-liter bottle is five NIS. Two members of the family became very sick with Hepatitis, one was only eight years old. Fortunately, both survived.

“It is a miracle that there are still doctors and nurses who are able to work under these conditions,” he said. Later, he added that he will never forget bringing them to the hospital via donkey cart. At first, there were no beds and no medications.

At one point, when Mahmoud was asked how he was he responded “Still breathing, waiting for death.”

When asked if they had enough to eat or drink, Mahmoud replied “It’s very bad over here. Everything is very expensive but we can manage.”

The family had not wanted to leave Palestine, according to Glenn Hendrick, a San Juan Social Justice Collective member. After a very difficult spring, they began to reconsider. The cost of passage is $5,000 per adult and $2,500 for children under 16 years old. The high cost is at least partially, if not primarily, a result of the fact that this transport is in the hands of a private company, according to Hendrick. To complicate issues further, the boarder is currently closed. However, the Social Justice Collective anticipates it to open soon, and wants to be ready when it does.

Appel told the Journal that he once dreamed of a two-state solution, for the AbuKhaled family to be safe, for the son Abed to graduate from school, return to Gaza and have a good job. Post Oct. 7, his dream is for the family to survive, get out of Gaza and for Abed to successfully finish his schooling and get a good job abroad. “He is the only chance for his family’s future,” Appel said.

In June, Mahmoud reported another rough night of heavy crazy shelling from “every kind of weapon imaginable.”.Attacks come from north to south, he said, East to West, and via sky, ground and sea.

“I believe Hamas has lost nothing so far. Only we, as a nation, did pay a heavy price,” Mahmoud said, adding that if they leave Gaza they would not go back “There is no life or future in Gaza. No hope. Everything is destroyed.”

The Social Justice Collective hopes to raise $100,000 to get the family out. They have also started a GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/f/urgent-aid-for-the-abukhaled-familys-evacuationfor and there is another for their daily needs: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-them-survive-gaza,

To learn more about the SJ Social Justice Collective visit their instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sjsocialjustice/ or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563357340354. For questions about the fundraiser or the organisation, email sanjuansocialjusticecollective@gmail.com.