In about three weeks, thousands of new winter gear flooded volunteers’ garages and the warehouse in Chandler. Others sent monetary donations, which AMA used to purchase bulk items like jackets, sanitary napkins, and wheelchairs from wholesale suppliers. The hope is that these desperately needed supplies will bring some comfort to Palestinians facing persistent military bombardment while surviving in crowded, make-shift shelters.
“With the current situation in Gaza where 1.9 million displaced Palestinians are living in shelter schools or in tents on the side of the road, and with the temperature dropping during this time of year, it’s important to provide them with warmth and comfort to ease their struggle,” said Samia Abdallah, HHRD’s southwest regional manager.
Volunteers from diverse backgrounds and faiths helped pack and load the donations along with other supplies HHRD had been collecting since October. The AMA’s Gaza Winter Drive was the final push needed to fill the truck and send it off. Eventually, all 561 boxes and 289 loose items, such as wheelchairs and crutches, will be transported to Jordan and then airlifted to the Egyptian border to await permission to enter Gaza.
HHRD-Arizona is one of about 35 member organizations that make up the AMA. The AMA, the largest Muslim organization in Arizona, serves to unite, strengthen, and amplify Muslim voices in the state. AMA partnered with HHRD due to its long and well-established relief work. HHRD is one of the few aid groups Israel has allowed into the heavily guarded area.
“HHRD has teams on the ground ready to go and have been doing this for a long time,” said Abdul-Quadir. “They guided us through the process and helped us choose the most needed items to put on the wishlist and the American people came through. Americans are generous, they are just, and we witnessed that here in our community in Arizona.”
BACKGROUND ON GAZA: Israeli attacks in Gaza have killed more than 30,000 Palestinians and injured many more, according to the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched an extreme military operation on Oct. 7, 2023, in response to attacks from Hamas. Since then, the IDF said it struck more than 22,000 targets in Gaza. Targets that have been hit by Israeli airstrikes include medical facilities, schools, mosques and churches.
