In a heartening display of solidarity, a group of young boys from Essex has taken to cleaning local beaches and parks to raise funds for children in Gaza. Brothers Zac, Abel, Todd, and their cousins Koah and Phoenix, motivated by distressing images of starving Palestinian children, have exceeded their initial £500 fundraising target for Save the Children. "We're all kids. We all deserve safety," they assert, emphasizing their commitment to continue these efforts until the crisis in Gaza is resolved.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification reporting that 470,000 people, or 22% of the population, are experiencing extreme food shortages. Despite a partial lifting of the blockade, medics and humanitarian agencies warn that more aid is essential to prevent worsening malnutrition and potential famine. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denies allegations of starvation, insisting that aid is not being blocked.

Meanwhile, Palestinians like Hanin Al-Batsh are turning to social media platforms such as Bluesky to crowdfund for basic necessities like flour and milk. However, these efforts are frequently hampered by accounts being flagged as spam. Al-Batsh, who has created over 80 accounts in six months, describes the challenge of maintaining visibility for her campaigns amidst these shutdowns. "My children have become weak, have lost weight, are malnourished," she shares, highlighting the urgency of her situation.

In response to these challenges, grassroots initiatives have emerged to verify and support legitimate crowdfunding efforts. Activists like Molly Shah are independently verifying campaigns, adding credibility to posts with a green checkmark and the phrase "Verified by Molly Shah." Similar efforts are being organized across other platforms, providing a lifeline for those in desperate need.