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1. Embed this notice
   Aral Balkan (aral@mastodon.ar.al)'s status on Thursday, 21-May-2026 20:33:21 JST Aral Balkan

   RE: https://mastodon.social/@abeerabed22/116611815273597059

   GoFundMe apparently closed Abeer’s previous account and told her that donations would be refunded.

   I had made a donation during the Gaza Verified emergency appeal and, as I understand it, that money (a) was never transferred to Abeer by GoFundMe and (b) has not been refunded to me (to date).

   Do any of you have people you know who work at GoFundMe.

   Unless I’m missing something, and if this money doesn’t reach Abeer or get refunded, it would appear that GoFundMe is closing accounts that are set up to help Palestinians and fraudulently keeping the money.

   Also, if you have friends in the press and/or in any regulatory bodies that might be able to help, please share this.

   #GoFundMe #Gaza #Palestine #donations

   • Embed this notice
     Aral Balkan (aral@mastodon.ar.al)'s status on Thursday, 21-May-2026 21:09:59 JST Aral Balkan

     in reply to

     @nemobis Many banks in Europe have restrictions on transferring to Palestinian banks. Palestinians can’t setup European bank accounts (that’s why people in Europe, etc., have to set up fundraisers for them, as GoFundMe, etc., won’t accept Palestinian banks).

     (SEPA – Single Euro Payments Area – is a Europe-only payment network.)

   • Embed this notice
     Nemo_bis 🌈 (nemobis@mamot.fr)'s status on Thursday, 21-May-2026 21:10:00 JST Nemo_bis 🌈

     in reply to

     @aral Silly question, are they able to get a SEPA bank account?

   • Embed this notice
     Aral Balkan (aral@mastodon.ar.al)'s status on Friday, 22-May-2026 00:08:21 JST Aral Balkan

     in reply to

     • Nemo_bis 🌈

     @nemobis Right, but those banks have to offer it via a partner bank in the SEPA zone (the UK should be part of it, unless something changed after Brexit). But yeah, the main issue is that Palestinian banks are excluded, afaik.

   • Embed this notice
     Nemo_bis 🌈 (nemobis@mamot.fr)'s status on Friday, 22-May-2026 00:08:22 JST Nemo_bis 🌈

     in reply to

     @aral Indeed it's difficult for Palestinians, hence I was asking to figure out their individual situation. A UK resident should be able to get a SEPA account, if they are able to get a sterling bank account. (I understand that's already a big restriction.)

     SEPA is not europe-only. "Anyone" can get a SEPA i.e. euro-denominated account from their bank, which will use a correspondent bank set up in the EEA.

     Unfortunately this is usually easiest with big banks e.g. https://www.hsbc.co.uk/international/currency-account/

   • Embed this notice
     JimmyB (he/him) (jimmyb@mas.to)'s status on Friday, 22-May-2026 00:51:37 JST JimmyB (he/him)

     in reply to

     @aral I had a significant donation returned again the other day - but some weeks after I’d made it. I think this is now routine. How angry is it possible to remain without losing it completely and ending up talking to a block of cheese?

   • Embed this notice
     Aral Balkan (aral@mastodon.ar.al)'s status on Friday, 22-May-2026 05:21:28 JST Aral Balkan

     in reply to

     • JimmyB (he/him)
     • justcare

     @justcare @JimmyB Good job on trying to close one of the few remaining channels open to Palestinians facing genocide at Israel’s hands. Based on your other posts, it’s clear you’re in support of Israel and complicit in this genocide.

     You may now fuck off.

   • Embed this notice
     justcare (justcare@sfba.social)'s status on Friday, 22-May-2026 05:21:29 JST justcare

     in reply to

     • JimmyB (he/him)

     @JimmyB @aral Per Muslim Legal Fund of America:

     "Providing aid through unlicensed U.S. charities or foreign charities is not advised because their aid may be considered material support of a foreign terrorist organization.....Providing direct aid to individuals or relatives in Gaza is not per se prohibited; however, it is not without risk. First, providing aid to any person in Gaza who is a member of Hamas or conducting combatant activities under the direction and control of Hamas can be considered material support."

     https://mlfa.org/how-the-material-support-of-terrorism-statutes-affect-relief-in-gaza/

     I imagine for-profit companies such as GFM would be highly suspect of potentially providing material aid to terrorist groups, or individuals in locations controlled by said groups.
     
     Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by the European Union. If I recall, Gaza Verified specifically does not vet individuals for Hamas affiliation.

     That doesn't mean all individuals in Gaza are affiliated with Hamas. But going outside of official channels distinctly raises risks.