I have received death threats because I have done charity work

My room in Cairo is dark and gloomy.

Several months have passed since I left Gaza.

Since the beginning of Israel’s genocidal war, I have been using social media to promote charitable initiatives for the people of Gaza.

When the famine began, especially in northern Gaza, some people took advantage of the situation. The prices of food and accommodation rose considerably.

The situation was catastrophic. It felt as if a mountain was collapsing more and more with each passing day.

One night, I was lying on my cold bed, listening to the constant sound of artillery fire. I checked Instagram and got a nasty surprise: I was being bombarded with death threats.

The threats came from Israelis via social media. The Israelis who threatened me considered me a terrorist because of my humanitarian work.

Many other Gaza aid organizations have received similar threats.

The threats must be taken seriously. Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank have attacked trucks carrying food destined for Gaza.

Life is precious. And out of fear for the lives of my family, I have applied to leave Gaza for Egypt.

That meant we each had to shell out $5,000. Before Israel attacked Rafah last month, Egypt demanded that amount from Palestinians who wanted to leave Gaza.

Yes, I left Gaza. But the pain there still haunts me.

How exactly should my trip be categorized?

Forced migration?

Voluntary migration?

Or migration without return?

We face many difficulties in Egypt. There are few job opportunities.

I am a doctor and I am having trouble finding work. My certificates and other important documents are still in Gaza.

I tried to contact the administration of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza and other relevant authorities in Gaza. I had to have copies of my documents sent to the authorities in Cairo.

The original documents were lost under the rubble of my house. And the health system in Gaza has almost completely collapsed.

Finally, I managed to get papers from the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. I am registering to complete my medical studies in Egypt.

I just hope that the war will end soon and we can return to our homeland and rebuild it.

Haya Hijazi is a medical student from Gaza.

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