Mahmoud’s Story: A Lawyer Who Lost Everything but His Humanity

My name is Mahmoud Afana. I am a Palestinian lawyer from Rafah in the Gaza Strip. For more than ten years, I have dedicated my life to defending rights, empowering the vulnerable, and advocating for justice in courts and communities. I have worked on humanitarian and legal projects with both local and international organizations, and I have been part of efforts to protect marginalized groups such as women, children, and displaced persons.

But in the recent war, I lost everything.

My home was completely destroyed by airstrikes. My law office—the only source of income I had—was reduced to rubble. All means of work and livelihood came to a halt. I was forced to flee to the Al-Mawasi area in Khan Younis, where there is no shelter, no electricity, no clean water, and none of the basic necessities of life. I now live without a home, without an income, and without the resources to support myself and my family or start again.

Despite it all, I have not stopped contributing in any way I can. I’ve participated in legal support projects for displaced people, conducted free legal awareness workshops, and continued to raise the voices of those who have none amid the destruction. But today, I need someone to stand with me—just as I have stood with others for years.

I am asking for your support to help me rebuild my life.
Your support today is not just for me, but an investment in someone who has always helped others and wants to continue doing so—despite having lost everything.

Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a difference.