Three-year-old Hanan al-Daqqi and her younger sister Misk have spent over four months battling not only physical injuries but the emotional trauma stemming from the Israeli conflict on Gaza. Their innocent questions illuminate the harsh reality of war as they often ask, “Where’s Mama?” and “Where did my legs go?” After suffering severe injuries due to shelling, both girls had amputations—Hanan losing her legs and Misk her left foot.
On September 2, Hanan and Misk's mother, 25-year-old Shaima al-Daqqi, took them for their polio vaccinations—an act of hope amid despair. Tragically, shortly after, their home was bombed, tragically altering the course of their lives. The traumatic event not only claimed their mother’s life but also left the girls grappling with their newfound reality as amputees, reliant on their aunt, Shefa, for support.
“We’ve been trapped in a nightmare for four months now,” lamented Shefa, her eyes red with grief as she tries to soothe the confused children. While dealing with their physical rehabilitation, the absence of psychological support exacerbates the vulnerabilities faced by the little girls. “What kind of future do they have to look forward to?” Shefa wonders, reflecting on the painful questions Hanan poses about their altered bodies.
Hanan and Misk's story is only one thread woven tightly within the broader humanitarian crisis plaguing the Gaza Strip. The UNRWA Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, recently condemned the situation, emphasizing widespread violations of wartime protocols. During recent raids, Israeli forces launched drone strikes targeting civilian shelters, killing eight Palestinians, including children, according to reports from Al-Jazeera.
Lazzarini’s call for immediate ceasefire highlights the stark reality as Israel’s military continues to bombard neighborhoods, with 50 Palestinians reported dead within 24 hours of one such attack. He stated, “Attacks on schools and hospitals have been commonplace. The world must not become numb.” These acts of violence prompted outrage and humanitarian calls for action, especially as healthcare facilities struggle to provide basic care amid relentless assaults.
Dr. Marwan Al-Hamas, director of field hospitals for Gaza’s Health Ministry, described the dire conditions inside medical facilities, worsened by the lack of basic supplies and utilities. Patients and medical staff often shelter from attacks, and the alarms signaling yet another raid become part of daily life. Communication breakdowns and inaccessible aid have left medical staff scrambling for resources against almost insurmountable odds.
Statistics paint a grim picture of the mounting losses: as of now, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reports over 45,259 killed and more than 107,627 wounded since the conflict erupted on October 7, 2023. The incessant violence has displaced nearly two million people within Gaza, forcing them to seek refuge in overcrowded shelters where basic necessities are scarce.
The impact of the conflict extends beyond immediate casualties; the suffering of civilians—including vulnerable children like Hanan and Misk—reveals the long-lasting scars of this brutal conflict. Shefa, who has become their primary caregiver, reflects on the stark and painful transition from their past lives bursting with colorful dresses and laughter to their current existence defined by suffering and uncertainty. Their acute need for prosthetics highlights the long-term trauma sustained, as they await approval to leave Gaza for necessary medical treatment.
“They just want to play,” she said, emphasizing the essence of their childhood lost amid violence. “How does this make any sense?” The outcry from health organizations and humanitarian groups becomes louder each day; they demand not only immediate end to military actions but also unimpeded access for aid to flow freely to those affected by the crisis.
For children like Hanan and Misk, desperate for simple joys like playing and dressing up, the continued fighting looms like dark clouds over their lives, leaving only uncertainty and heartache. Both the UN and WHO have urged for immediate measures, calling for the world not to turn a blind eye to the atrocities committed against Gaza’s civilians as pleas for humanitarian intervention only grow more desperate.
With every passing day, the plight of those trapped within the horror of this conflict remains urgent and demanding of attention. The global community must step up and respond to these calls for peace, healing, and hope for the innocent lives caught in this relentless tide of violence.
