Gaza Assistance

This program aims to facilitate the seamless settlement and integration of newly arrived Muslim families from Gaza. These families will be eligible for Zakat under the Fuqarah and/or ibn Sabeel Categories as per the Qur’an (Surah Al-Taubah 9:60)

Program Objectives:

• Provide a one-off Settlement Assistance payment for essential needs upon first arriving in Australia.
• Provide monthly payment to cover living expenses.

Who is this program for?

We anticipate the arrival of approximately 860 Palestinians in Australia on Visitor Visas (Subclass 600). Sponsors of individuals arriving from Gaza can apply for this program online through this page or by calling the 1300 663 729 hotline upon the sponsored individuals' and families' arrival in Australia. Applications will only require details regarding family composition, ages of individuals, and sponsorship information for the initial payment.

We are assisting applicants Australia wide.

• Facilitating Integration: By providing financial support for essential needs and ongoing expenses, the program aids in the initial settlement phase, enabling those families to focus on healing from the trauma and integration into the Australian wider community. We are committed to providing ongoing monthly support for at least the next six months.
• Ensuring Basic Necessities: The allocation structure ensures that individuals of different age groups receive appropriate financial support tailored to their specific needs.
• Sponsor Engagement: Involving sponsors fosters a sense of dignity, responsibility and support within the families, enhancing the overall integration process.

Initially, we expected visa updates for those arriving from Gaza. However, after almost a year, the majority of visas remain unchanged, and the needs have far exceeded our initial expectations. We originally budgeted for 860 visas, but 2,300 have now been granted, with over 1,100 individuals already in Australia and more arriving each day.

Through our 'Hearts for Palestine' fundraising efforts, we initially raised $2.3 million. However, by September 2024, we had distributed a total of $3,948,810.05 in Zakat and Sadaqah, supporting 1,146 displaced individuals from Gaza who arrived in Australia since November 2023.

This assistance included:

• One-off Settlement Assistance payments to cover essential needs upon immediate arrival.
• 6 month ongoing monthly financial support to help cover living expenses.
• Critical aid during the settlement phase, enabling families to heal from trauma and integrate into the wider Australian community.
• Engaging sponsors to promote dignity, responsibility, and a sense of support, further enhancing the integration process.
• Engaging and collaborating with stakeholders, including schools, community groups, government, and non-government organisations.

We had anticipated that many of the visas would have been changed by now, but unfortunately, this hasn’t been the case. As a result, we are planning to extend our assistance for another 6 months, and this is where we need your support.

To continue fulfilling our commitment to our Palestinian brothers and sisters, we need to raise an additional $3.1 million to support those currently in Australia for the next 6 months.

As a community, it is our duty to ensure they receive the ongoing support they need.

Breakdown of the $3.1 million:

• $200,000 is needed for individuals still on the 6-month program who have not yet completed it.
• $2.9 million is required to extend the program to support 1,146 individuals for the next 6-months, excluding settlement aid.

It was truly heart warming to see hundreds of supporters across Melbourne, Sydney & Brisbane unite together for one cause for the Hearts for Palestine Fundraising Dinner. A unique event through the collaborative effort of National Zakat Foundation, Islamic Relief, Penny Appeal and Brothers in Need.

Note: If you need to pay for a pledge made at the fundraising dinner, you can pay online by clicking donate now and choosing the "Gaza Assistance" cause.