Woman Defies System to Deliver Aid in Gaza

In the Middle East, where conflict and corruption often dictate survival, one woman is determined to change the narrative. Sara Awaida, a 30-year-old resident of East Jerusalem, is spearheading efforts to provide essential supplies to Northern Gaza—an area many have deemed unreachable.

Working with local partners through the Multifaith Alliance (MFA) and collaborating with Israeli authorities, Awaida has managed to establish a system that delivers food and other necessities to Gaza, feeding over 100,000 families in the process. However, this achievement has come at a personal cost, as Awaida mentioned in a recent interview conducted in a safe location in Israel, “I never imagined that creating a safe, independent, and humanitarian route would be the reason for my life to end.”

Her team’s journey began with the distribution of 346 trucks filled with assistance from September 2024 to February 2025, reaching 100,622 families. Awaida explained, “We decided to expand our distribution on June 30, 2025, when we faced significant challenges in getting supplies to Gaza due to chaos, looting, and blockage.” Operating through a network called MENA Aid, they devised an alternative delivery route.

Goods were first transported by a trusted Israeli logistics company from the port of Ashdod to the Kerem Shalom and Jikim intersection, where another team took over to move the supplies into Gaza, all while continuously coordinating with Awaida and her staff. “When the aid crosses into Gaza, it’s picked up by another logistics partner and escorted by our own team,” she said.

This direct oversight has allowed them to achieve what seemed nearly impossible—reaching the North Gaza region, where residents hadn’t seen staple foods supplied for weeks. Yet, success often casts a shadow, revealing a more troubling reality: hunger has become a commodity in this struggling economy.

Awaida revealed a troubling dynamic: “There’s an underground market where some individuals steal aid and sell it due to the high demand and low supply. We unintentionally disrupted this cycle by providing goods for free, which threatened those profiting from inflated prices.” The shortage of essentials like sugar in Gaza forced sellers to confront reality. “When we bring it in for free, they can’t keep charging outrageous prices,” she noted. “So we became their issue.”

Israeli authorities have worked to dismantle these private schemes, making some humanitarian efforts even riskier. Awaida remarked, “Those who lost profits began threatening and trying to undermine our routes.”

Recently, Awaida has faced an increase in threats, both from Gaza and the West Bank. “One of the most painful betrayals was from someone I trusted, who was actually part of a group looking to exploit humanitarian efforts,” she said, underscoring the emotional toll of her mission. Despite the challenges, she remains dedicated to her cause. “We implemented a distribution model that ensures fair access to food,” Awaida explained. “Even under harsh conditions, people lined up with dignity.”

Throughout the past month, her team has delivered 75 trucks of supplies, and Awaida continues to take on this monumental task even as the threats escalate. “What cuts the deepest isn’t the external threats but betrayal from within my circle,” she reflected. Yet, she’s resolute. “If we’re losing our sanity over this, at least we know we’re doing the right thing.”

Knowing the risks, Awaida stated, “I won’t stop. I will keep providing assistance to those in need, regardless of the dangers. That’s my commitment.” For her, this fight against corruption and the struggle for humanitarian aid for the families in Gaza has taken a significant personal toll, but for those standing in her food lines, she is proving that change is possible—even when it feels impossible.