On a recent Zoom call to left-leaning American Jews, an Israeli civil society activist reported that “if you say you’re sad to see kids and other innocent people die in Gaza, many Israelis brand you as a Hamas supporter.“ Meanwhile, in the U.S. and Europe, unhinged leftists, who show no concern for Jewish victims of the Hamas massacre on October 7th, have been tearing down pictures of Israeli hostages pasted on walls.
But many people feel empathy for ordinary people on both sides, and are searching for ways to
help both Jews and Arabs in the wake of the horrific Hamas attack and Israel’s military response. If you’re among them, check out this list of organizations “helping people in Israel/Gaza,” created by “social media influencer” Miriam Anzovim, as reported in the Forward. Here’s most of her list, with abbreviated descriptions (click on the names for embedded web links):
Providing urgent humanitarian relief to Palestinians in Gaza, including medical supplies, hygiene kits, and food parcels for the overwhelming numbers of displaced families. Anera supplies assistance only to legitimate institutions to comply with U.S. laws, does not work with Hamas, and is independently audited.
BARZILAI MEDICAL CENTER
A frontline hospital that is under fire and has been hit by Hamas rockets but is still treating the mass casualties of the attacks in southern Israel. The hospital has created underground areas where newborns and critical patients are relocated for protection and treatment.
ERAN: Mental Health Support in Israel
Offers initial response and emotional support on the phone and online, to any person experiencing emotional distress in crisis. This service is available in multiple languages, including Arabic.
The Arab-Jewish Center for Equality, Empowerment, and Cooperation – Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Economic Development
During this crisis, AJEEC-NISPED partners with the Shared Emergency Center for the Negev Bedouins to respond to needs of the Bedouin community in the south of Israel.
Hostage and Missing Families Forum
Volunteer-based, focused on bringing back the more than 200 hostages held by Hamas. The forum offers families support (including psychological counseling) and works to make sure we don’t lose sight of the hostage crisis.
Leket Israel
The leading food rescue organization in Israel, harvesting surplus agricultural produce and collecting cooked meals for distribution. Currently providing emergency meals and essential supplies like baby formula and diapers to impacted people in the south of Israel.
Mrs. Najah’s Kitchen
Providing emergency meals to displaced Gazans in the south of Gaza who have no food or way to feed themselves.
NATAL – the Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center
An apolitical organization providing multidisciplinary treatment and support to victims of trauma due to terror and war. NATAL’s hotline and other services are available to all Israeli citizens regardless of religion, ethnic background, color, age, gender or socio-economic status.
NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief
An all-volunteer Israeli humanitarian NGO working with communities in crisis. NATAN volunteer family physicians, pediatricians, and nurses are aiding the survivors of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, as well as providing medical care for the hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians from the north and south of Israel.
Parents Circle Families Forum
A joint Israeli-Palestinian organization of hundreds of families who have lost loved ones in the ongoing conflict. The PCFF is managed by a joint Israeli-Palestinian board and a professional team operating from the Palestinian office in Beit Jala and the Israeli office in Ramat Ef’al.
Off-The-Grid-Missions
Nonprofit disaster-response organization dedicated to providing Deaf & Hard-of-hearing people with life-saving resources around the world: “Both Deaf Palestinians and Deaf Israeli families are cut-off from vital information and incredibly frightened. . . .”
Ohela – Amen
Providing first-aid, mental-health support to people evacuated from Kibbutzim close to the Gaza border, including Kibbutz Be’eri. Treating children (some orphaned), mothers with babies, parents, elders, and their caregivers. Care is being provided for cases of sexual violence. Currently fundraising to provide first aid and long term post-trauma care.
SmartAID
A non-religious, non-political, international humanitarian aid organization fighting global poverty and economic inequality. SmartAID distributes essential relief items, including food, hygiene kits, blankets, for families in kibbutzim in the south as well as areas in the north of Israel that have absorbed thousands of evacuated families.
World Central Kitchen
Supporting impacted families in Gaza and Israel, providing food kits and meals for displaced families in both areas.
United Hatzalah
Fast-response Volunteer Emergency Medical Services raising funds for life-saving equipment. Ten million dollars is sought to equip an additional 1,000 United Hatzalah volunteers with protective vests and helmets, oxygen tanks, defibrillators, trauma bandages, and tourniquets.
ZAKA ISRAEL
ZAKA is a civilian volunteer organization ensuring a full Jewish* burial for those who have met sudden violent death, by collecting spilled blood and body parts at the terror or accident site.
*ZAKA also has Druze, Bedouin, Circassian, Christian, and Muslim volunteers to care for the deceased with respect according to each communities laws and customs.
For more complete descriptions of these humanitarian organizations, and a few others seeking to rescue animals, click here for Miriam Anzovim’s list.
You could also donate to the following worthy groups listed previously by Ameinu Vice President Nomi Colton-Max:
- Project Rozana USA, with an emergency fund for Israeli hospitals;
- Chofshi B’Arztenu, with a fund for assistance to Israeli residents in the South;
- UnXeptable has compiled a list of recommended fundraising projects, including support for unrecognized Arab villages in the Negev;
- Dror Israel has an emergency fund especially focusing upon the needs of children.