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I first met Amjad and Abeer through a relative of Abeer’s, although I have come to know this family primarily through Amjad's eyes, which always shine with love for them. Amjad is the first family among the families I grew personally close to and began introducing to my local community as 'Eight Families in Gaza.' Amjad's kindness, compassion, and love for his family struck me from the very first moment we ever spoke. We became friends quickly and easily, and it was impossible not to care about him as I grew to know him. And I am honored to have his trust, and touched when he refers to me as his 'big sister.'
When they first tried to move south in October 2023, it was too dangerous for Amjad, as Palestinian men were being arrested and taken captive by the Israeli forces at the checkpoints. Abeer left with their son Hassan in search of safety, and Amjad was separated from them for over a year. This was a particularly painful period, and Amjad would often tell me how much he missed his family and how he was worried about their well-being, how he wanted to be there to support them, how he wished he could be with them.
Towards the end of November 2024, he could not wait any longer and he decided to risk the journey so they could be reunited, and thankfully, he was able to reach them, and this close-knit family has been together ever since, trying to survive the violence, the bombing, the repeated displacements, the forced starvation, and the daily struggles of living in the midst of the genocide.
In addition to Abeer and his sons Hassan and Mohammad, Amjad is also doing everything he can to support and care for many other family members. He also feels responsible for the well-being of his grandmother, his sisters and their kids, in particular his sister whose husband was martyred during the genocide.
Amjad has told me before that he is very tired. He wants more than anything just to have a simple ordinary life, where he can make his wife and kids happy and enjoy spending time with them. He misses being able to just be, to have a job and regular routines. There have been times during these past two years when he has volunteered and helped organize and support community initiatives that cook and distribute food in the nearby areas, and these opportunities have always been restorative for him and made him very happy.
Helping others gives him joy. And giving people support, taking care of his family, making sure those around him are ok, trying to give everyone what they need–these are the things that sustain him. At the same time, when this becomes more difficult, when donations slow down and obtaining what his loved ones need is not possible, I think it is the pain caused by his feelings of being helpless and unable to ease the suffering of those around him that wounds him more than the actual deprivation.
In the dozen or so times I have given the presentation in my local and area communities, whenever I have planned presentation updates and asked Amjad if there is anything new for me to share, he always says that he just wants me to make sure people know that his family is the most important thing to him. In all the time I have known Amjad, this has not changed and will not change. Amjad’s love for his family is his touchstone and guiding light.
I still remember the day he was finally reunited with Abeer, and I was so happy when they could be together again. One of the ways I got to know them both was through the public posts they would both make to each other during the time when they were separated. It was clear that their love for each other was strong, and this is another thing that has helped see them through many challenges.
Abeer is lovely, sweet, and kind. And she has an undeniable strength that she has had to draw upon repeatedly, both for herself and also her family, including when her health and the health of her baby Mohammed was at risk. She required daily injections throughout her pregnancy to manage a serious health condition, and ultimately her labor had to be scheduled and induced. She has endured much uncertainty, deprivation, forced starvation, and suffering while still doing everything she can to take care of herself and her family. And thankfully, on August 13, 2025, beautiful baby Mohammed was born, bringing life and happiness to his family and community, joining his dear sweet brother Hassan to become together with him the core of this family.
In addition to Abeer and his sons Hassan and Mohammad, Amjad is also doing everything he can to support and care for many other family members. He also feels responsible for the well-being of his grandmother, his sisters and their kids, in particular his sister whose husband was martyred during the genocide.
Amjad has told me before that he is very tired. He wants more than anything just to have a simple ordinary life, where he can make his wife and kids happy and enjoy spending time with them. He misses being able to just be, to have a job and regular routines. There have been times during these past two years when he has volunteered and helped organize and support community initiatives that cook and distribute food in the nearby areas, and these opportunities have always been restorative for him and made him very happy.
Helping others gives him joy. And giving people support, taking care of his family, making sure those around him are ok, trying to give everyone what they need–these are the things that sustain him. At the same time, when this becomes more difficult, when donations slow down and obtaining what his loved ones need is not possible, I think it is the pain caused by his feelings of being helpless and unable to ease the suffering of those around him that wounds him more than the actual deprivation.
In the dozen or so times I have given the presentation in my local and area communities, whenever I have planned presentation updates and asked Amjad if there is anything new for me to share, he always says that he just wants me to make sure people know that his family is the most important thing to him. In all the time I have known Amjad, this has not changed and will not change. Amjad’s love for his family is his touchstone and guiding light.
I still remember the day he was finally reunited with Abeer, and I was so happy when they could be together again. One of the ways I got to know them both was through the public posts they would both make to each other during the time when they were separated. It was clear that their love for each other was strong, and this is another thing that has helped see them through many challenges.
Abeer is lovely, sweet, and kind. And she has an undeniable strength that she has had to draw upon repeatedly, both for herself and also her family, including when her health and the health of her baby Mohammed was at risk. She required daily injections throughout her pregnancy to manage a serious health condition, and ultimately her labor had to be scheduled and induced. She has endured much uncertainty, deprivation, forced starvation, and suffering while still doing everything she can to take care of herself and her family. And thankfully, on August 13, 2025, beautiful baby Mohammed was born, bringing life and happiness to his family and community, joining his dear sweet brother Hassan to become together with him the core of this family.
Amjad and Abeer are a family who brings people together. Being able to build upon the love and care I have for Amjad & Abeer and their family, to see it expand and grow and affect other people who have also come to know and care about them, has brought me closer to them and to others who care, as the kind and loyal hearts of this family have reflected back to me what this world needs more of, giving me hope that a different world is possible.
Likewise, my connection and commitment to Amjad & Abeer has also grown stronger with time, becoming a commitment I vow to keep for the rest of my life. A commitment and an honor. I am grateful for their presence in my life. And I hope you will give them your support.
[For those in the Bellingham area, there is a fundraiser yoga class benefit on Friday, November 21, 2025 at 6pm at Flux Power Yoga, with donations from this class going towards Abeer & Amjad & Their Families.]
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