Gaza City – In the wake of ongoing humanitarian challenges, Nebal al-Hessi, a 25-year-old mother from Jabalia, reflects on her difficult circumstances from the confines of her family’s temporary tent. Severely injured in an Israeli artillery strike on October 7, 2024, which resulted in the amputation of both her hands, Nebal remains hopeful for a brighter future as she eagerly awaits the reopening of the Rafah land crossing. This critical artery between Gaza and Egypt offers the promise of access to vital medical care not available in her beleaguered homeland.
Over a year since her life was altered, Nebal joins thousands of others who look to the Rafah crossing as a gateway to improved medical treatment and a semblance of normalcy. “Every day, I think about tomorrow and the opportunity to travel for medical help,” she shared quietly, expressing the pain of her current reality.
Nebal’s tragedy began when a shell landed on her household, leaving her grappling with severe injuries, including internal bleeding and significant physical loss. The acts of war have created conditions that challenge not only individual lives but the overarching health care infrastructure in Gaza, where access to essential medical resources is critically limited. After enduring extensive surgeries, Nebal has found herself in a state of constant dependency, requiring assistance for even the most basic daily tasks.
Looking to maintain a semblance of motherhood, she voices her struggles with heartache. “I want to care for my daughter, but everything feels paralyzed,” she laments, a testament to the broader emotional and psychological impact of conflict on families.
As authorities announce plans to facilitate medical passage through Rafah, many, like Nebal, harbor moments of hope mingled with uncertainty. The Ministry of Health in Gaza has documented the urgent need for specialized care, underscoring the critical situation facing thousands in the region.
In the backdrop of her struggle, a 16-year-old girl named Nada Arhouma faces her own battle for survival. Injured amid continuous conflict, she has undergone multiple failed medical interventions that exacerbate her condition. Her father, Abdul Rahman Arhouma, remains steadfastly committed to his daughter’s well-being, despite the systemic obstacles and delays plaguing the medical referral process. “We face a long wait to secure my daughter’s right to treatment,” he states, capturing the sentiment shared by many families grappling with similar predicaments.
As the Ministry of Health emphasizes the need for urgent medical transfers, the experience of patients seeking treatment remains fraught with uncertainty amid unclear operational protocols for Rafah. The impact of conflict on healthcare systems serves as a glaring reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by those in Gaza as they navigate their path toward recovery and dignity.
Through these individual stories, the persistent hardships of the Palestinian people come to light—yet so too does their resilience and undeterred hope for a future filled with healing and normalcy.
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