A monumental humanitarian crisis has since that time erupted in the heart of Gaza. More than 50,000 of those children have been killed or maimed by the continuous and frequent cycles of conflict. An unprecedented number of children have undergone amputations in the most recent war, leaving Gaza as the highest per-capita land of child amputees on the planet. That is, until October 7, 2023, when the Israeli military offensive escalated suddenly and incredibly. As a result, millions of children are trapped in waking nightmares, as innocent families and civilians live under hunger, fear and threat from inhumane bombardment.
One of the thousands of stories surfacing during this chaos is that of 15-year-old Majd Alshaghnobi. On 16 February 2024, an Israeli airstrike hit him with catastrophic result. The explosion shattered his jaw and the lower part of his mouth. He is one of the many children affected by this violence, highlighting the urgent need for medical evacuation and support for those in dire circumstances.
As the war continues, the cost has been horrific. More than 700 of these evacuees have died waiting for their medical evacuation from Gaza, nearly 140 of them children. In fact, it’s only the opposite worsening. Reports indicate that at least 1,723 health workers have died across the region. International humanitarian law prohibits attacks on medical units. Israeli military operations have significantly hit civilian hospitals. In Gaza City, three hospitals are now non-operational and since the start of the current hostilities, 38 hospitals have been damaged or destroyed.
The Plight of Evacuated Children
Majd Alshaghnobi was welcomed on his recovery journey as the third child from Gaza to arrive in the United Kingdom. Her optimism rose with a successful private medical evacuation arranged by Project Pure Hope. He had facial reconstruction surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. This major surgery was necessary to give him the chance to eat and speak again.
“Hopefully, if and when we can give him the kind of result that we’re hoping for, this will pave the way for more children to come,” – Prof. Owase Jeelani
Between October 2023 through July of 2024, over 7,642 evacuees relocated from Gaza. In total, 5,303 were children — emphasizing the dire need for medical care. Yet the UK has accepted just 0.03% of those needing evacuation, leading many to question whether international support goes far enough.
Majd’s story is one of wishing for order in the midst of turmoil.
“My wish is for Gaza to return to what it once was, for everybody to get back together,” – Majd Alshaghnobi
The experiences of evacuated children are highly symbolic of the dire situation all children in Gaza are currently experiencing. We wrote about a letter from Palestinian parents to Doctors Without Borders that described the deteriorating situation for Palestinian children who have suffered over 700 days of nonviolent war.
The Impact on Families and Communities
The effects of this war go well beyond visible wounds. In these volatile times, families are facing emotional turmoil as they experience the pain of separation and mourning. Islam Felfel describes his anxiety about leaving his children behind during his evacuation, stating:
“Being away from them is tearing my heart apart.” – Islam Felfel
Felfel’s sons, Muhammad and Yusuf, express their despair and confusion at being left behind during such perilous times:
“You left us here. You took the boy that you love and left us, and we could die at any moment.” – Felfel’s sons
With neighborhoods, schools and daycares destroyed, we have put displacement children at risk, losing some of their safe spaces to go to.
“Their home is gone. Their safe places are gone. They are now on the street,” – Islam Felfel
The emotional scars left by war Like their bodies, children bear the psychological evidence of conflict. Omar Din, a humanitarian worker in Gaza, emphasizes the urgency of addressing these challenges:
“There’s no shortage of the kind of challenges that we’re seeing in Gaza. So many children have lost limbs, have lost the ability to eat,” – Omar Din
The Global Response and Need for Action
If international organizations are still determining how best to respond, the need for a stronger response has echoed louder and louder in recent weeks. According to the United Nations’ children’s agency, Gazan children are the most affected by the Israeli offensive. Given this reality, it is all the more important that global leaders show up and deliver.
Eyad Amawi critiques the targeting of essential services during the conflict:
“Destroying these beacons of hope is intended first and foremost to break the will of society, to push people into despair, and to rob them of their ability to endure,” – Eyad Amawi
The humanitarian needs are staggering, but hope is hard to find. Advocates have been fervently urging lawmakers to provide more resources for these tough kids. Through violence and intimidation, they have shown unparalleled resolve to rise above challenges.
