In Gaza City, within the densely populated Gaza Strip, five-year-old Sila Abu Aqlan took her tentative first steps on a prosthetic leg in a local clinic. Sporting a tiny pink sneaker adorned with a delicate frill that matched her pink hoodie, Sila was experiencing a significant milestone. It had been nearly fifteen months since her leg was amputated due to severe burns from an Israeli airstrike, but she was now ready to begin using a prosthetic limb.
Amid the backdrop of conflict, one of the most heartbreaking sights was the numerous children who had lost limbs due to Israeli bombings. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Gaza currently has the largest modern-day cohort of child amputees as a legacy of the war. Throughout the 17-month-long conflict, the demand for prosthetics, wheelchairs, crutches, and related services sharply exceeded supply. A ceasefire in mid-January presented an opportunity for humanitarian organizations to increase the influx of vital medical supplies. However, these efforts could only suffice about 20% of the overwhelming need, noted Loay Abu Saif, who leads a disability program with the group Medical Aid for Palestine (MAP).
Any potential for progress was abruptly halted when Israel imposed restrictions on March 2, preventing the entry of medical supplies alongside other essential resources like food and fuel. The conflict has since resumed with devastating consequences, having claimed hundreds of Palestinian lives, thereby exacerbating the number of those requiring prosthetics.
Furthermore, these children confront not only physical barriers but psychological challenges as well. Many young survivors grapple with the mental anguish of losing a limb and other traumas. Sila’s entire family was lost in a December 2023 airstrike, and the severe burns to her leg necessitated eventual amputation after her persistent suffering, her aunt Yasmine al-Ghofary explained. Despite efforts to provide Sila with happiness, the reality of her circumstances continues to be a significant burden she carries. As Sila watches other children play, she frequently asks why she cannot be like them, her aunt shared.
Reem, an eleven-year-old, faces similar struggles. An airstrike in October 2023 resulted in the loss of her hand while her family was fleeing their Gaza City home. Left with deep frustration, Reem now depends on others for basic tasks like dressing and struggles with feelings of aggression targeted at her siblings and moments of isolation when she witnesses others playing.
As of November 2024, it is estimated that between 3,000 to 4,000 children in Gaza have required amputations, according to experts Jamal al-Rozzi and Hussein Abu Mansour, who are known for their work in the region’s rehabilitation initiatives. Similarly, the World Health Organization reported in September that as many as 17,500 individuals suffered from grave injuries, necessitating comprehensive rehabilitation and support.
Throughout the conflict, hospitals were often short of crucial medications that might have prevented some of these amputations, with doctors frequently forced to amputate limbs due to infections that could have been managed under different circumstances. The ongoing military campaign in Gaza, particularly strikes targeting residential areas, has perpetuated this crisis.
On Monday, Gaza’s Health Ministry released a report listing the names of over 15,000 children, aged 17 and younger, who had been killed due to the ongoing conflict with Israel. Amongst them, nearly 5,000 children were under the age of six, including 876 infants who had not yet reached their first birthday. Altogether, over 50,000 Palestinians, spanning all ages, have died, with more than 113,000 wounded as a result of the campaign. While Israel holds Hamas accountable, noting the group’s presence in residential zones, the war’s toll on civilians has been catastrophic. From a population of approximately 2.3 million, almost 90% have been displaced.
In May of the subsequent year, airstrikes resulted in further amputations, such as for 13-year-old Moath Abdelaal from Rafah, whose leg was removed above the knee. His family, uprooted by the conflict, was forced to reside in a tent camp after evacuating, suffering further when their Jabaliya home was destroyed. The psychological impact of these experiences profoundly affects Moath, as the difficulty of navigating his environment compounds with the knowledge that he has lost friends from his neighborhood.
At places like the Artificial Limbs and Polio Center in Gaza City, relief organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross provide critical support, offering physical therapy, wheelchairs, and prosthetics to hundreds affected by mobility challenges. Yet, the supply of these life-enhancing devices is insufficient. There remains a pressing need for more wheelchairs, as evidenced by the steady stream of 50-60 individuals seeking them daily in northern Gaza, MAP’s Mahmoud Shalabi highlighted.
Meanwhile, the import of prosthetic manufacturing materials remains hindered due to perceived military sensitivities. Israel has publicly stated that medical supplies, including prosthetics and crutches, have not faced importation limitations, a position met with skepticism by those seeking to support disabled Palestinians.
For a select few, opportunities arise to seek medical treatment abroad, yet such evacuations persist at a sluggish pace, exacerbated by the resurgence of military escalations. Tragically, many injured individuals still await their chance to leave the region for critical medical care.
Amidst this challenging backdrop, Asmaa al-Nashash fervently hopes for her 11-year-old son Abdulrahman to receive treatment beyond Gaza’s borders. After losing his leg to an airstrike while at a marketplace, Abdulrahman finds it difficult to engage in typical childhood activities, facing social stigmas from peers. For his mother, the emotional strain is palpable as she watches her child grapple with these hurdles.