‘Now is the time to deliver aid’: Activists rally for global humanitarian support to Gaza after truce

By Seda Sevencan and Esra Hacioglu Karakaya

CAIRO / ISTANBUL (AA) — Standing in a warehouse in Cairo, where aid trucks bound for Gaza were being prepared, two international activists urge humanitarian support for Palestinians.

The ceasefire took hold in Gaza between Hamas and Israel on Jan. 19, pausing Israel’s war that has devastated the enclave and left it in ruins.

Jacob Berger, a Jewish American actor and content creator, has spent the past three months in Egypt. Speaking to Anadolu, he emphasized the importance of prioritizing humanity over divisions of faith or nationality.

"Now is the time to deliver the aid. We have the connections. We're able to get trucks into Gaza. The people need the help more than ever. Really, whether it's $5, $10, $100, every dollar helps," Berger said.

Working with vetted organizations to ensure aid reaches those in need, he expressed gratitude to Türkiye and other contributors for their efforts. "It's not about Muslim, Christian, Jew. This is about humanity. And we need to come together. And now is the time so please, please help us out."

Berger criticized Israel’s actions, saying they contradict Jewish values.

"I’m a human before I’m a Jewish person. I was raised with Jewish values. What I see Israel doing to the people of Falasteen (Palestine) does not represent Judaism. They purposely try to hijack Judaism and make it (seem) that Zionism is the same thing. It’s just not the case ... It brings great shame to Judaism, the way they justify what they’re doing to the Palestinians."

He added that his outspoken stance has isolated him from parts of the Jewish community. "I've been pushed out, because many Jews are Zionists, unfortunately. But I know when the history books are written that I am on the right side of history. I'm sure during Nazi Germany, there were Germans that were against what the Nazis were doing. And I'm in that same boat of being against it. And I just want to do everything I can to help the people and people know the difference between someone who's Jewish and someone who's a Zionist."

Berger, who lives in Cairo, said he has found solidarity with the local Muslim community, challenging stereotypes he encountered in the West.

"I’ve been living in Egypt for three months now. I hang out with Muslims every single day. They all know the difference (between Jewish and Zionist). Being here has been so important to break through the propaganda and everything we’re taught in the West — that Arab, Muslim people are scary and so me being here and showing that we can work together to help the people of Falasteen is very powerful. It destroys the narrative Zionists put out for us."

- ‘You can actually help people in any way possible’

Nicole Genes, a Spanish Romanian producer and actress, echoed the urgency of humanitarian action.

"We are here together today, and not only today, for the last 15 months. So many people, especially, they ask me: ‘What can I do?’ And I tell people, (even) if you only pray, it's okay. If you're helping humanitarian work, it's okay. If you raise awareness, anything, it's important," she said.

With the ceasefire in place, Genes urged people to take action.

"As the borders are open, I'm making an appeal to the entire world. Do not ask anymore the question ‘What can I do?’ when you have so many possibilities to actually help people in any way possible ... from awareness, from raising funds, from sending aid, from collaborating with all the organizations and all the individuals."

She expressed gratitude for Türkiye’s contributions.

"Thank you so much for your awareness and all that fire in your hearts to help Palestine. I'm seeing here a lot of Turkish organizations sending aid in. And that's a blessing, to see the entire world coming together, all the countries ... no matter the religion, no matter the race, no matter anything. But just come together and stop begging that question of, what can I do? Just be a human and start today."