Gaza teen amputee recalls nightmare of losing arms in Israel strike

Teenager Diaa Al-Adini was one of the few Palestinians who found a functioning hospital in war-ravaged Gaza after he was wounded by an Israeli strike. But he did not have much time to recuperate after doctors amputated both of his arms.

Al-Adini, 15, suddenly had to flee the overwhelmed medical facility after the Israeli military ordered it to be evacuated. He made it to an American field hospital.

Many Palestinians have been displaced numerous times during Israel’s war on Gaza, moving up and down and across the Gaza Strip seeking shelter, but they have found that “nowhere is safe in Gaza”.

Scrambling to save your life is especially difficult for Palestinians like Al-Adini, who require urgent medical care but get caught up in the chaos of the war.

Memories of better days provide limited relief from reality in Gaza. Israeli strikes have reduced most of one of the most crowded places on earth to rubble as rows and rows of homes are destroyed.

“We used to swim, challenge each other, and sleep, me and my friend Mohammed Al-Serei. We used to jump in the water and float on it,” said Al-Adini, who walked on a beach with his sister Aya recalling the few distractions from before.

‘The strike hit when he was in a makeshift coffee house.

READ: Israel army launches largest West Bank offensive in 20 years, orders evacuations as death toll rises

The teenager, who spent 12 days in hospital before he was displaced, also lost his aunt, her children and grandchildren in the war.

“As for my arms, I can get other ones fitted but I cannot replace my aunt,” he said.

Israel is accused of genocide in its military offensive in the Gaza Strip in which it has killed at least 40,500 Palestinians and wounded 93,778 others, according to the Ministry of Health in the enclave.

This week, Israel ordered the evacuation of yet another hospital, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza. It has previously destroyed the Strip’s largest medical centre, Al-Shifa Hospital, and is using the only cancer centre as a military barracks.

Palestinians struggling to survive Israel’s bombs are faced with the impossible task of finding suitable medical care, amidst the complete siege imposed by Israel and the resulting shortage in food, fuel, power and medical supplies.

“God willing, I will continue my treatment in the American hospital, and get limbs,” said Al-Adini.

He dreams of being like other children one day; to live a good life, get an education, drive cars and have fun.

READ: Israel army launches largest West Bank offensive in 20 years, orders evacuations as death toll rises

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