Highland Hearts for Palestine event raises more than £7k in support of Inverness doctor’s family in Gaza
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The plight of an Inverness doctor’s family trapped in Gaza was highlighted a coffee morning which raised £7784 to support his efforts to bring them to safety.
Dr Salim Ghayyda, a paediactric consultant at Raigmore Hospital, made a heartfelt speech at the sell-out event which was organised by Highland Hearts for Palestine.
With the help of donations from the public, Dr Ghayyda’ parents, a sister and a nephew have managed to cross from Gaza into Egypt after finding themselves caught up in the Israel-Hamas war.
But he remains fearful for his 28 immediate family members who remain trapped and are having to eat animal feed and grass, and are at risk of dying from Israeli bombardment, dehydration, starvation or widespread disease.
Inverness doctor's plea to save family in Gaza
'It's absolute hell on earth, there is no food.'
Watch: Plight of Gaza family raised in Westminster
Highland Hearts for Palestine, a group formed by about 30 women, came together to support his efforts in trying to raise £100,000 to get his family to safety and keep them alive.
The coffee morning, held at Inverness Ice Centre, also included speeches by Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey MP Drew Hendry and Avigail Abarbanel, a psychotherapist, who gave up her Israel citizenship.
The event included a raffle and home baking while a silent auction has also taken place.
Aimee Downie who organised the event, said as mothers, sisters, daughters, friends and humans they could not ignore what was happening in Gaza.
“We are absolutely over the moon with how the event went,” she said.
“It was a huge success. To have so many people come and support Salim and his family is extremely heart-warming.”
She said the talks had given people an insight into how awful the situation was.
“We raised in excess of £7784.08 and are so thankful to the community of the Highlands,” she said.
“It was lovely to have different generations there together. It was a very inclusive event.”
The fundraising coffee morning was among other events attended by hundreds across the Highlands including the first Highland - Palestine event in Alness.
Through crowdfunding efforts via Go Fund Me, Dr Ghayyda has managed to raise more than £36,000 in a bid to get his family to safety.
