A Donegal woman whose family has been devastated by the Israeli invasion of Gaza has set a fundraising challenge to help her loved ones.
Josephine Gallagher Hajjaj, a Letterkenny-based primary school teacher, is married to Munther Hajjaj, a Palestinian national living in Ireland. The couple met in Abu Dhabi and moved to Donegal, where they had three children.
The atrocities of the war have had a horrific impact on Munther’s family, who lost two children and their grandmother in an airstrike.
Josephine said: “Munther’s mother, father, four brothers and their families are all trapped in the war zone. They have been displaced several times, some have been injured. They are all completely traumatised and are living in constant fear.
“In October, Munther’s younger brother, Ahmed, lost his two beautiful children. Amal was eight years old and Mohammed was just five when an Israeli airstrike caused their home to collapse, killing both children as they slept in their beds. Their grandmother died from her injuries a few weeks later.”
Hike For Hajjaj Family
While Josephine and Munther fear for their family every day, they are determined to offer some support from afar.
“Families in Gaza have lost everything. Their homes are gone. Their lives have been completely destroyed. Every day is a desperate struggle to survive,” Josephine said.
“After enduring six months of constant fear and devastation we want to bring them some hope for their future by organising a fundraiser.”
On Sunday, June 2nd, the Hajjaj family, along with family and friends, will climb Errigal mountain at 9AM. This will be followed by a family fun afternoon at 2pm in Dixons, Meenlaragh.
All donations will go directly to Ahmed Hajjaj to help him and his family rebuild their lives in Palestine.
“Nothing can bring back Mohammed and Amal or ease the pain of their loss. All we can hope to do is try to relieve the financial burden they are facing,” said Josephine in an online appeal on GoFundMe.
The fundraiser has already surpassed €3,600, and with local events planned in over a month’s time, they hope to raise even more to bring solace to the family.
Visit the GoFundMe page here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/hike-for-hajjaj-family
