Alaa ad-Dali is a young man who had a dream – quite a rare thing in Gaza – and it was crushed by the IDF. What does he have left? 138 young people in Gaza have lost legs in the protests at the fence as a result of IDF sniper fire, and they aren’t even a story. Their motivations don’t interest anyone. They are all labeled “terrorists.”
Medical work in Gaza is impeded by the unmanageable number of wounded, the complex injuries that will require multiple follow-up procedures, and the shortage of supplies. Add to that the difficulty in getting permission for patients to seek medical attention outside the country – it adds up to an impossible situation.
Some of Gaza’s 2,500 lower-limb amputees have created a football (soccer) team, and they have their sights set on the World Championship.
Abdullah, 13, lost a leg to an Israeli sniper bullet. He’s not a cute kid who had a tragic accident. His story is the horror that Gaza has become for nearly every family.
Yousef Kronz was well within Israel’s designated “safe zone” in Gaza, wearing a Press vest, when he was shot in both legs. A young man who ran to help him was shot in the leg as well. Then Israel refused Yousef passage to the West Bank for treatment that would have saved at least one of his legs.
Two young Palestinian men are in danger of losing their legs if they remain in Gaza hospital; this constitutes a violation of their right to life and health, and is a violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.