Games for Gaza bundle raises over $200,000 for Palestinian medical aid

More than $200,000 has been raised by a group of independent developers for the UK-based Medical Aid for Palestinians. Games for Gaza is aiming to raise $300,000. There are nine fundraising days remaining. Bundle includes 256 tabletop games and videogames as well as books, music, and soundtracks for $10.

Game designer Esther Wallace created the Games for Gaza bundle following Israel’s siege on the Gaza Strip. NPR reports that Israeli attacks killed over 7,000 people. Hamas (the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip) attacked Israel and killed over 1,400 people. In the weeks since, Israel has launched extensive airstrikes and a ground invasion, as well as a reported blockade that’s kept essential aid out of the country. Over recent days, Gazans have reported “near-total” internet and communication outages, according to The Verge.

In response to this crisis, Medical Aid For Palestinians provided much-needed supplies to victims who have been displaced and injured. “Since the limited opening of the Rafah border crossing on 22 October, the first time since the blockade, a drop in an ocean of 74 aid trucks of food, water and medicine arrived in Gaza,” Medical Aid for Palestinians said on their website. “Prior to 7 October, an average of 500 truckloads entered Gaza every working day according to the UN. None of the aid deliveries entering Gaza so far has included fuel, and UNRWA, by far the largest humanitarian provider in Gaza, has almost exhausted its fuel reserves and has therefore begun to reduce operations significantly.”

Beyond the impact the donations will make with Medical Aid for Palestinians, Games for Gaza is a great deal — you get a ton of games for just $10. Squirrel surveillance game Nuts is included in the bundle, as well as Necrosoft Games’ Hyper GunsportThe Wikipedia murder mystery Neurocracy 2049. Beyond video games, there are 197 physical and tabletop games, like Everest Pipkin’s The Ground itself You can download a couple of game soundtracks, such as the music from Wilmot’s Warehouse.

In 2021, Indie Bundle for Palestinian Aid collected almost $1 Million for United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which offers food assistance and protection to Palestinians. Aid is needed as East Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank continue to be affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Games for Gaza Bundle is still available. So far, more than 14,000 donors have contributed.