Al Najjar Family’s Story

We Lost Everything, But We Don’t Want to Lose Our Lives: The Story of Samer Al Najjar

Samer Al Najjar, a 39-year-old Christian from Gaza, finds himself in the midst of a devastating crisis. A father of three—Fouad and Esther, 12-year-old twins, and Fadi, his youngest whom he lovingly refers to as “the doctor”—Samer has been raising his children alone after his divorce, fulfilling the roles of both mother and father. He works as an administrator at the Ahli Arab Hospital, where he once led a relatively normal life despite the inherent difficulties of living in Gaza. As the only son in his family, Samer carries the responsibility of caring for two families, all while managing the emotional and physical needs of his own children.

Before the war, Samer managed the challenges of daily life with resilience and logic, facing the same struggles that many in Gaza confront. However, everything changed on October 7th, the day that signaled the start of an unrelenting nightmare. The war has drastically altered his life, especially his duties at the hospital. Despite the suspension of most professions, Samer continued working, sometimes for more than 24 hours at a time. Walking long distances between his home and the hospital amidst bombings and destruction became routine as transportation was unavailable. Fearing for his children’s safety, Samer would occasionally bring them to the hospital with him.

Tragedy struck when the hospital was bombed twice. On both occasions, Samer was dangerously close to the blasts, and a massacre that killed over 500 people took place in one of the attacks.

The war’s early days were especially harrowing for Samer and his family. They endured the lack of basic necessities like electricity, water, and internet while staying in their home. Eventually, they were forced to evacuate and seek refuge at the Holy Family Church, a Catholic sanctuary in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. Although urged to flee south, Samer’s family chose to stay at the church, where they remain in cramped quarters with 15 other people. Privacy and stability are absent, and food is scarce, often expired, but consumed to stave off hunger.

When a temporary ceasefire took place in December, Samer was able to return home, only to find it destroyed. One part had been demolished, and the other was burned due to incendiary bombs. Everything inside the house, valued at more than $80,000, was looted. The emotional toll on his children was immense, as they lost not only their home but also their most precious possessions.

With their friends gone and their school bombed, Samer’s children began pleading to leave Gaza. The constant reminders of death and destruction have made life unbearable. But leaving Gaza comes at a steep price—$5,500 per person just to cross the Rafah border. For Samer, already burdened by the losses of war, this amount is unattainable.

Feeling overwhelmed and under immense pressure, Samer has turned to global platforms to share his story and seek support. His cousin Kamil, who lives in the U.S., is helping him pursue the dream of escaping the war and building a safer future for his children.

Despite the many obstacles that have blocked his path, Samer remains determined to overcome them. He appeals for support, sharing his story with the hope that kindness and humanity will prevail, bringing light to the darkness surrounding his family. As he navigates through these unimaginable challenges, Samer is certain that goodness can still triumph over evil with the help of compassionate people from around the world.