In war-torn Gaza, a growing number of Gaza amputees are facing unimaginable challenges. With limited medical support and nearly non-existent rehabilitation services, thousands of people—many of them children—are living with life-altering injuries caused by Israel’s ongoing military campaign. The situation is worsening each day as patients wait for prosthetics, treatment, and hope in a region where even basic necessities are scarce.
Dreams Lost in a Flash
Farah Abu Qainas, 21, once dreamed of becoming a teacher. But an Israeli airstrike in 2024 took her left leg and shattered her future. Now living in a temporary shelter, she waits in a wheelchair for an artificial limb. “That day I lost more than just my leg,” she said. “My dreams vanished. I wanted to teach children, but this injury stole my future.”
Rising Toll Since the War Began
The conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, after a Hamas-led attack on Israeli towns. Since then, Israeli military operations have killed over 50,800 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials. Nearly all of Gaza’s two million residents have been displaced. Bombings have left thousands injured, many permanently. The UN’s humanitarian agency OCHA estimates that 4,500 new amputees now need prosthetics, in addition to 2,000 existing cases needing follow-up care.
Medical System on the Brink
The healthcare system in Gaza is overwhelmed. Access to prosthetic limbs and mobility aids has become extremely difficult. Ahmed Mousa, who leads the rehabilitation program for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza, said at least 3,000 people have registered for their program. Of those, 1,800 have lost limbs. Thousands more suffer from spinal injuries or have lost their hearing or sight.
Delivering artificial limbs to Gaza is another hurdle. “There is no clear timeline for many patients,” said Mousa. The lack of supplies is compounded by restricted aid access. Israel suspended humanitarian aid deliveries after a ceasefire was broken last month.
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Waiting in Pain
Abu Qainas is among many who attend therapy without knowing if or when she’ll receive a prosthetic. “They told me to wait, but I don’t know if it’s going to happen anytime soon,” she said.
Children are among the hardest hit. Seven-year-old Shaza Hamdan lost her leg when shells rained down during a walk with her father. “One hit my leg and cut it off,” she recalled. Shaza underwent multiple surgeries, including a second amputation due to infection. “Now, I depend on my mother for everything. I can’t play like I used to.”
Living Without Options
Shaza’s father said his daughter’s mental health is deteriorating. “She cries every day and asks when she’ll be able to walk again,” he said. “There are no prosthetics in Gaza. The only hope is treatment abroad.”
Doctors are working under extreme pressure. Dr. Ismail Mehr, an anaesthesiologist from New York, said over 99% of amputations were done in makeshift conditions, without proper sterilization or equipment. Some surgeries were even performed by non-specialists due to a lack of qualified staff.
A Generation Left Waiting
The war has not only taken lives—it has erased futures. For Gaza’s amputees, survival now means learning to live without limbs, without care, and often without answers.
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