GAZA, (PIC)
The stories of pain and suffering in the devastated Gaza Strip are endless. As the genocide in Gaza continues for the second consecutive year, Israel persists in its brutal crimes against innocent people—killing, maiming, burning, and starving them.
Three-year-old Jihad Yousef is one of the many victims of this criminal genocide in Gaza. He lost both of his legs in a horrific massacre on September 10th, when Israeli warplanes bombed the Muwassi area of Khan Yunis with devastating bombs that resulted in dozens of deaths and injuries.
No more football
On that day, Jihad suffered severe injuries that led to the loss of both his legs—one amputated above the knee and the other at the thigh. Now, he lies in a hospital bed, unaware of what has happened to him or what is happening around him. All he knows is that he will never play again. He will no longer run with his friends, play football, or enjoy his childhood. The criminal occupiers have taken away his childhood forever.
His mother says that Jihad’s health is critical, and every day, she feels like she dies a thousand deaths. She struggles even to provide diapers for him. She hopes that her son can travel abroad for treatment, as Gaza’s healthcare system is collapsing. She also wishes for prosthetic limbs to be fitted for him.
She adds that Jihad’s father was also injured in the same massacre and is in unstable condition after undergoing several surgeries, including the insertion of metal plates in his legs. He is injured in various parts of his body. Her brothers were also killed in the same attack. “No one in my family came out unharmed,” she says.
Jihad is deeply traumatized, and his mental state is deteriorating. He suffers greatly and cannot sleep, crying intensely all day long. She revealed that three of his fingers were amputated as well. “His health is worsening, and he is in shock like no other.”
The heartbroken mother issued a plea to the World Health Organization, asking for help in getting her son out of Gaza to complete his treatment, get prosthetic limbs, and receive psychological and medical support.
Emotional response
Jihad’s story has garnered widespread sympathy on social media, where people expressed their deep sorrow over what happened to him, praying for his swift recovery and for all the injured children in Gaza.
In a comment, Habib Mohammed said, “We bear witness to You, O Lord of the Worlds, that our eyes are filled with tears of sorrow, and we are powerless to help. O Allah, grant victory to our people in Gaza. O Allah, be with them, not against them.”
Zina wrote, “After seeing him, I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, couldn’t drink. How can we help him? My heart breaks for this child.”
Meanwhile, Abu Ahmed Al-Khalidi prayed, “O Allah, as they have shown their strength against our brothers in Palestine, show them Your strength, O Lord of the Worlds.”
Thousands of amputations
According to a report published by the World Health Organization, around 4,000 children in Gaza have undergone amputations since the start of the Israeli aggression on October 7th.
Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) also reported that amputees in Gaza face life-threatening complications due to the lack of proper medical treatment and supplies. Most hospitals are short on essential equipment, and the ongoing closure of borders prevents many from accessing life-saving treatment, leaving them to face both physical and psychological challenges.
Finally, Areej expressed her profound sadness, saying in a social media post that she wishes Jihad Yousef could receive treatment in the best hospitals and that one day she could see videos of him playing and running like children around the world.
