this is a reminder to PLEASE not fall for people who want to manipulate you and your empathy to profit off of a genocide.
Do not donate to fundraisers promoted by who break the terms of gazavetters (this includes spam-tagging people under others’ posts, and threatening language).
If anyone is using manipulative language on you (“why do you ignore me” when i simply don’t check tumblr dms that often), immediately be suspicious. Don’t ever trust “vetted by gazavetters,” go actually CHECK the gazavetters list.
If you choose to donate to individual families, please exercise immense caution and care to ensure that your donation is going to real people.
I personally recommend donating to reputable organisations rather than individual campaigns, for several reasons:
I do not believe that those who are best at social media and SEO, and those who have contacts in other countries able to set up fundraisers for them, are somehow more deserving of aid than individuals and families without those resources.
Larger organizations can make money go a LOT further than individual families. Several thousand dollars to a family will feed that family; several thousand dollars to gaza soup kitchen will feed so many families.
There is no risk that you are sending money to a scammer, and enriching someone trying to profit off of the war.
I am very, very tired of this. And I’m tired of people who say not to talk about scammers, because it somehow implies that “all people from palestine are scammers.” If a campaign is run for someone actually in Palestine, they are by definition not a scammer. But the scammers are very real and pretending they don’t exist gives them more power.
“It is better to accidentally donate to a scam than to not donate at all” is false, when your money could instead go to reputable organisations doing genuine good in Gaza. Do not continue to reward parasites who seek to profit off of your empathy.
Continue to donate to families if you wish, but do so with care and caution. Research larger organizations carefully as well, since not all are helpful (do NOT donate to Gaza Humanitarian Foundation). Here are several links to reputable organisations you can research and donate to:
Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund
United Nations Relief & Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
World Food Program (Palestine)
Palestine Red Crescent Society
Medical Aid for Palestinians