Gaza support network
People to People
Since October 7th, it has become clearer than ever: Salvation will not come from governments – but from people like you and me.
We are a group of citizens from Israel and around the world who have chosen to build personal relationships and provide financial support to families in Gaza. We do this out of responsibility, compassion, and a desire for human connection. This initiative was born in direct response to the devastating situation faced by the people of Gaza.
The initiative has two main goals:
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To create direct, personal relationships with families and individuals in Gaza.
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To build monthly support networks made up of people in Israel and around the world, enabling families in Gaza to survive in the face of poverty, hunger, and a lack of basic security.
October Update:
These are days of change. A ceasefire has been signed. The hostages are returning home, and the people of Gaza are shifting from a place of life threatening fear, to surviving in a reality which is difficult to comprehend.
Some of the families in the network have returned to their neighborhoods only to discover ruins where their homes once stood. Nothing is left. Some cannot return home as their homes are beyond the yellow line Israeli withdrawal. Some are lingering in place, contemplating what to do next. Some are thinking of leaving through the Rafah border crossing once it opens.
Now, the grief, fear, pain, and sadness have finally the space to surface.
Many of the families are asking whether we will continue to support them. They fear losing this relationship. We assure them that we are completely with them, each network in its own way.
That our hearts are with them, that we are holding together this vibrating space in which there is so much life, and so much death.
We feel that right now and in the near future, the networks are very much needed, both for the financial and material support we offer with the winter just around the corner. And for the solidarity and emotional support that is needed as people are coming to terms with the terrible losses they have experienced.
Many thanks to everyone here. I hope and pray that this is the beginning of a period of reconstruction and healing. I hope.
Networks: over 50
That is, more than 50 families in Gaza who are in contact with and supported by our networks. The families are located in various places throughout the Gaza Strip. In most cases, they reach the network organically, by word of mouth or through an acquaintance of one of the coordinators. Our support network is a grassroots system in the truest sense
Coordinators: over 60
Some coordinate for more than one family, and some work in pairs to share the workload. The coordinators are in daily contact with their designated family or families and are dedicated to supporting them in various ways. Collecting money and transferring it is one way, but support can also take additional forms such as seeking out information and relevant contacts, offering emotional support, searching for online work to allow families to make a living, and doing joint work on any other initiatives that may be put together by the families in Gaza. In essence, coordinators strive to meet any need or support any idea that comes up as part of our shared relationships. We have a Signal group where we share information and exchange messages, thoughts and feelings.
Supporters:
Each network consists of approximately 15 to 30 supporters and develops its own character and ways of working. Each one is managed freely and uniquely by its coordinator.
Officially:
In September 2025 the initiative was registered as a non-profit organization in Canada. Here are the official details:
Corporate name: Gaza Support Network
Status: Active
Corporation number: 1730464-1
Business number (BN): 735909160RC0001
Governing legislation: Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act - 2025-09-09
For online Federal corporation information - click here
In Figures
(last updated October 2025)
You can also make a one-time donation
These days, many families are being uprooted from their homes, sometimes for the fifth time or more. Such a move can easily cost a family 15,000 NIS, due to the outrageous prices of tents, transportation, food, and medicine - if they even have somewhere to escape to…
In this disastrous time, any significant amount of support is extremely valuable.
You are warmly invited to contribute to the “petty cash” fund, and we will make sure the support reaches those who need it most.
Thank you so much!
How does it work?
For every family that gets in touch with us, we form a support network based on the specific needs of each family. For instance, a family of four in Gaza needs approximately 2,000 NIS ($540) per month to afford two meals a day. When a group of supporters works together to cover this cost, it becomes sustainable. The supporters give according to their ability, but they commit to give the same amount every month.
Each support network has a dedicated coordinator who is responsible for:
- Collecting the funds
- Transferring the funds to that network's family
- Serving as a primary contact person for the family in case of technical, emotional, or other needs
- Sharing updates from the family with the network
In some networks, members may build personal and direct connections with the family via WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram, Signal, or any other chosen platform. This connection is not mandatory; it develops naturally, based on mutual willingness and chemistry.
Once the funds are collected each month, they are transferred to the family in Gaza. This process is not always simple, but each coordinator and family find the method that works best for them.
What’s behind this initiative?
This initiative grew out of a desire to connect and from a sense of responsibility to one another as citizens, neighbours, and human beings. For too many years, Israelis and Gazans have lived in separation and disconnection. But since October 7th and the devastation that has followed, our sense has grown stronger that peace won’t come from leaders or governments. It must come from us – the people.
At its core, the Gaza Support Network is about care and closeness – each person in their way and at their own pace. We are all learning to move through mistrust, doubt, tough questions, pain, fear, and the risk of being hurt. That’s how real relationships work.
Participation Form:
To join – CLICK HERE or fill out the form below >>>
A few words from the heart:
This initiative rolled out in May 2025. Since then, it has been unfolding and growing step by step, like so many other things these days, through trial, error, and good intentions. It covers a lot of new territory for everyone involved, emotionally, relationally, and existentially, but we believe our pain, shame, and helplessness is allowing a new kind of wisdom to emerge.
Click here to read more about how this initiative began
Thank you for your openness and willingness to take part. For your trust. For listening. For hoping. For being here. We pray that the connections formed here will help us create a new reality – one in which we can all thrive and rest.
Community Initiatives
A few months into our relationships with the families in Gaza, we began to feel that there were multiple needs arising — that the families were more aware of and better able to address. In this way, our support network gradually evolved — not only by expanding to include more families, but also through community initiatives created by the men and women with whom we are in contact.
In order to grow these initiatives we are open to, and actively seek, collaboration with organizations and individuals — to learn from and collect any ideas that emerge, whether from within or from outside the community — in the fields of nutrition, health, education, infrastructure, creativity and more.
Since this initiative is based on personal relationships and connections, and not necessarily focused on a specific topic, it has the flexibility to respond to needs across a wide range of areas
Mohammed and Dina’s Community Kitchen
In the heart of central Gaza, Dina and Mohammed are keeping hope alive through a grassroots initiative that provides hot meals, clean drinking water, and essential supplies to families in the Al-Maghazi refugee camp. Since the war began, these parents of three young children have embodied humanity and solidarity, refusing to let their neighbors go hungry or thirsty. Even as heavy bombings shook the nights, their mornings were devoted to cooking and distributing food.
Three times a week — depending on the funds they manage to raise — they bring in a truckload of water, buy groceries, and cook hot meals for the whole neighborhood. When resources allow, they also distribute packages with basic necessities. During the most difficult days of the war, when donations ran short, Mohammed told us that his heart broke walking down the street, hearing people ask if he would be bringing water or preparing food that week.
As thousands were displaced from Gaza City and the north, the refugee camp became overcrowded with families who had lost everything, and the demand for the kitchen grew sharply. Until people in Gaza can rebuild their livelihoods, they remain in deep poverty and uncertainty. Even after a ceasefire or agreement is reached, it will take a long time and hard work before they can find safety, stability, and a sense of normal life again. Supporting this initiative means not only feeding families, but also strengthening the resilience of the Al-Maghazi community and restoring dignity and purpose to those leading this effort.
We are seeking both one-time and, most importantly, monthly supporters to help create a stable network of aid — as well as volunteers who can assist with fundraising to expand the project’s reach. Together, we can ensure that Mohammed and Dina’s mission not only endures, but grows — bringing nourishment, clean water, and hope where they are needed most.
Ibrahim and Ulfat’s Bakery
After the siege of March 2025, some aid routes finally opened, allowing a small amount of flour to enter Gaza — flour that came at the cost of many lives. Yet even for those who managed to get some flour, there was little they could do with it. Most bakeries had been destroyed, and gas or firewood were nearly impossible to find, costing a fortune. That’s when Ibrahim suggested that we buy two small ovens and invite people to come and bake together.
With the help of his wife and his widowed neighbor, Ulfat, they set up a small mobile bakery, baking pita bread for families in the Al-Bureij refugee camp — and welcoming anyone from the community to bake their own bread using the flour they had.
The bakery began as a pilot project in August 2025 and has since continued to operate weekly. During the occupation of Gaza City, the families relocated with their ovens to A-Zawaida in the middle of Gaza strip, where they kept the project alive, serving other displaced families, like them, in need of cooking facilities.
Now, during the ceasefire, they still remain in A-Zawaida, unsure of what the future will bring. Everything is still fresh and raw. Just this week, Ibrahim returned to the improvised grave of his brother to move his remains to a proper resting place. Such is life for so many in Gaza. The ceasefire has opened a space for mourning all they have lost, and a lot of uncertainty.
Ibrahim is now developing another initiative — an educational space for children and orphans. We will share more updates soon as his plan evolves.
How It All Started
by Noa Golan
Hi, I'm Noa Golan. This is a photo of Mohammed and me on a video call with our kids, chatting on Messenger.
Throughout this terrible time since October 7th and into the devastation that has followed, I kept feeling this absurdity: How is it that we're so distant from the people in Gaza, trapped in disconnected worlds, even though we're only half an hour away from each other? Not even that – we’re one phone screen, one WhatsApp message away. If we wanted to, we could just ... talk.
I felt this, but I didn’t do anything about it. Months passed. Then one day, I got a message from Mohammed: “Hello Noa. I'm Mohammed, your friend from Gaza.”
Of course, my first thoughts were, “What is this? Who is this? This must be a scam!” But then a voice inside me said, “Noa! This is exactly what you were hoping for! Answer. Lean in.” So I replied: “Hi Mohammed. I’m Noa, your friend from Tel Aviv.”
Pretty soon, Mohammed told me about a fundraising campaign he was running – buying clean water and supporting his neighborhood community – and asked if I could support him. He had been essentially texting many random people, hoping to connect with a few who might be willing to help. I said, “Look, I don’t know you; I don’t know if you’re real or what you’re doing with the money. I’m not about to just start sending money to Gaza. Let’s get to know each other first.”
So I asked questions – and he answered. I sent photos and he sent back – of him, of his community work – and I got them and I trusted him. After a few days of messages, he added his wife, Dina, to our chat. The connection with her was immediate, moving, and warm. Our conversation deepened. There was laughter, too. And more questions – about hunger, about Hamas, about Israel, about the land between the river and the sea.
I shared this evolving relationship with Mohammed and Dina on my Facebook profile, and I got a flood of supportive, emotional responses. It was like I had opened a door in our collective hearts that had been locked for ages and suddenly, we could breathe. We could connect. We could love.
Soon after this, friend requests started pouring in from Gaza – people wanting to connect, most of them asking for financial support. So many GoFundMe links, PayPal accounts, urgent pleas for help from hungry, bombed, displaced, and terrified people – afraid of Israel, of Hamas, and of an inability to live in impossible conditions. Just half an hour away. Just a screen away.
I thought about how hard, exhausting, and humiliating it must be to “fish” for random strangers on social media, hoping someone will send you 50 euros so you can maybe buy a bag of potatoes tomorrow. And about how frustrating it is for people who want to help but just can’t help everyone.
So the idea came naturally: Why not adopt a Gazan family? I asked Mohammed and Dina how much a family needs just to eat two meals a day. They said that for four people, it costs around 2,000 NIS (~$540). I thought that if ten people could come together and commit to that monthly amount, the family could at least be sure they’d have food.
In my next Facebook post about our relationship, I shared this idea of monthly support networks. The next morning, I woke up to more than 200 messages from people wanting to join. To connect with a family in Gaza. To support them. It was overwhelming. And somehow – if it’s even possible to say in the middle of this unbearable reality – uplifting.
This initiative has been unfolding since May 2025. And like everything right now, it’s emerging, step by step, through experience and good intentions. We are all in new territory – relationally, emotionally, and within the chaos and devastation of Gaza. We’re witnessing images and emotions we never imagined, on both sides of the fence. But the fence has been broken – literally and metaphorically.
And maybe now, out of pain, shame, and helplessness, a new wisdom is arising. The wisdom of the heart – something we were taught to forget, but that lives deep in all of us. Its roots: love, sincerity, and simplicity.
An Important Message To Everyone Involved
This is a personal message from me, Noa Golan, to everyone taking part in this initiative: We are living in a time where the logic we once knew no longer applies. Out of despair, helplessness, and what feels like true madness, I feel a different logic arising within me – a natural wisdom that comes from the gut, from the heart, and from a pain rooted in love. I see this same wisdom rising in more and more people, and it’s probably what brought you to take part in this initiative. This is the wisdom we are listening to, and to it we say: Yes, here I am.
The Gaza Support Network is made up of many smaller networks. Each one is independent and consists of a group of people supporting a single family in Gaza. Each network has one or two coordinators who collect the support (currently financial support) and transfer it to the family. The coordinator is also responsible for communication with the family and for responding to questions from members of the network. Often, the supporters are also invited to connect personally with the family – although every network operates a bit differently. The initiative is organic, dynamic, and shaped by the families and supporters who take part in it. Details about how things work and additional answers to common questions appear below. For now, I’ll continue with the vision and essence. It’s important that you read this before proceeding.
This initiative covers a lot of new ground, which is being discovered as we go and may carry risks. Our actions serve and support human beings, and we are driven by a deep sense of responsibility and a desire to realize our natural connection to one another. But there are those who will oppose, mock, or condemn what we are doing, whether from a civil, security, or perhaps even legal perspective. As of now – August 2025 – however, our activities are not illegal, and this has been confirmed by two attorneys specializing in the field.
As mentioned, these are uncertain times, and so it is important to emphasize that each person is responsible for their own actions and for the expression of love they bring into the world. As this initiative grows, I am discovering that it not only seeks to support the people of Gaza and bring people closer together – it can also bring people closer to themselves. It requires a person to meet themself in unfamiliar territory, perhaps while feeling uncertainty, fear, and pain – and still remain present, listening to their inner truth and integrity and finding a way to respond. For decades, we’ve relied on leaders to guide us, or on professionals who “knew what was right,” or we've generally assumed that someone else was doing the work. And here we are.
I’m tired of pointing fingers – even when there’s blame – as it feels futile and empty. The only control we have is over ourselves. So I understand now that the essence of this initiative is also a renewed self-education: to live the reality I want to see in the world, to back my words with my deeds, to create and act from a place of listening to love – not from ideas (even beautiful ones), narratives, or mental habits that promise “security” or “protection.” To take a step and discover who I am through it all, and what effect it has on the world around me. This, in any case, is the world I want to live in.
I don’t expect everyone taking part in the initiative to be moved by these words – though I’d be glad if they were. Not because they are my words, but because I believe this way of operating brings out the unique light and wisdom in every woman. And every woman is a great light and a great wisdom. That’s truly how it is. You didn’t come into this world by accident; you have something to give. You know things. You matter. This next part of my message is explicitly for you:
For far too long, we women have diminished or distanced ourselves – and now we inhabit a reality created by men. Even if they have done their best, that’s still the only dish on the table. I say this with all my respect to the men involved in this initiative, and my apologies to those who find this generalization difficult – the devastation is too complete for me to be politically correct. This is how I feel and what I see: Women are deeply needed right now. Our support is vital. It is vital that we take an active part in reality – even if a small one. That we initiate – even if someone else carries it out. That we share our ideas – even if they sound far-fetched. That we dare, learn, dive deeper, ask questions, give answers, and move forward in love – slowly and attentively, because everything is vibrating and sensitive – but we move forward all the same. That’s the nature of this initiative, and that’s the wind blowing in our sails. Come aboard.
Thank you for reading.
With love,
Noa
FAQs – Questions I Often Get
Disclaimer: Everything I share here is based on what I’ve experienced and learned. Nothing is “definitely right.” I’m not a seasoned activist, and I’m certainly not a professional in this field. All I have to offer is my perspective. Thank you for understanding
Q: How can you know if someone from Gaza is real?
Honestly, you probably can’t – just like you can’t know many things for sure.
What I do is this: I lean in, I listen to myself, and I speak honestly. When I have doubts or concerns, I say them – even if it’s uncomfortable. I ask uestions like: "Why don’t you have a profile picture?" or "What did you think about October 7th?"
I ask for photos and videos – and I send mine too. I invite openness from the other side. And I feel. I just try to feel.
Is that enough? Only you can decide. For me, it is. I’ve also ended some connections. I’ve blocked people. But ultimately, this work takes a leap of faith – with love as the wind beneath it. And love, as we know, carries risk. Anyone who’s ever loved knows that.
Q: Is it dangerous to send money to families in Gaza?
I asked two lawyers. Here’s what they said: As long as there’s no reason to believe the person you’re supporting is involved in terrorism, the legal risk is minimal. It’s possible you could be questioned, but there would be no grounds for prosecution.
A few safety steps you can take:
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Keep a record of your messages and conversations – questions, answers, photos. If you need to, back up your chats or take screenshots. This helps show that you entered the relationship in good faith and with pure intentions.
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When you send the money, document each step: from you → to the third-party account → to the family.
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Keep screenshots that show who received the funds. That way, you can clearly show where the money went and why.
Doesn’t sending money make things worse in the long run, encouraging the high prices and leaving many others behind?
It’s possible. I don’t know. It depends on how much aid is getting in, where it goes, and how it’s distributed, because the only real solution to the high prices is for food to become more readily available. The civilian reality in Gaza is dangerous from every angle. These monthly support networks won’t stop the famine, but they might help a few people eat better. More than anything, they create cracks in the wall of disconnection that has kept us apart for too long.
Q: How do you meet people in Gaza and talk to them?
You can send friend requests, accept those that come in, or ask mutual friends (including Mohammed) to introduce you. Honestly, things are often simpler than they seem.
As for communication apps: in Gaza, Telegram is the most widely used, but you can also use WhatsApp, Messenger, or Signal – whatever works for you.
Q: How do we really know what’s safe?
We don’t. This is unfamiliar territory – emotionally, socially, and legally. My best advice? Keep things personal. Simple. Honest. Modest. Don’t send large sums. Go slowly. Feel your way through. If something feels off – stop. Ask questions. Learn. Get advice. This is the most responsible path I can imagine in today’s reality.
Q: Where do the supported families come from? How are they found?
Most of it happens organically – friend-to-friend. Some families came through Mohammed, who is from the Al-Maghazi refugee camp. Some reached out on social media and formed connections. Some knew Israelis before the war – often as workers or medical patients. We only form a support network after at least a few weeks of personal connection – exchanging messages, sharing photos, and getting to know one another enough to feel confident that we’re supporting real people seeking real friendship and support.
Q: How does the money transfer work?
Currently, there is no way to send money directly from Israel to Gaza. Instead, the money is sent to a third party abroad – usually a family member or similar trusted person with a bank account outside of Gaza. We mostly use PayPal or Wise to transfer the money abroad.
Inside Gaza, most goods can only be purchased with cash. Since banks and ATMs aren’t functioning, people rely on street money changers, who often take a 40% commission just to convert the money into cash. It’s terrible – but that’s the current reality (as of July 2025). Some areas still accept online payment through local apps (kind of like “Bit” in Israel), but it varies. If you know of better solutions, please let us know.
Q: If there’s no food in Gaza, how does money help?
From what the families tell us, conditions vary from place to place. In many areas, food is still available (though the variety is limited, and it’s often not very nutritious), but it’s very, very expensive – and people have no income. Some of the food comes from local farming, some from pre-siege storage.