Shaymaa Shady, a 6-year-old girl, was bombarded with curious questions from her peers at an Italian summer camp about her lost leg. One child asked, "Ha fatto la guerra," or "Did she go to war?" Shaymaa is one of 16 children who evacuated from Gaza in desperate need of medical treatment after sustaining severe injuries in the ongoing conflict.
Among them is Sarah Yusuf, who can finally play without a limp after suffering a broken pelvis from an Israeli strike. Ahmad al-Saafen, just 4 years old, is learning to adjust to his new prosthetic leg after losing his own due to bombardment over a year ago. Baian Azoum, also 4, was critically injured and faces nearly two years of treatment while adapting to life in a foreign country.
These children, mostly under 15, were evacuated from the Gaza Strip early this year after grave injuries, all resulting from the violent clash between Israel and Hamas. Their airlift was made possible through intricate negotiations involving aid organizations and various governments, including those of Israel, Egypt, and Italy, with each child accompanied by a caretaker.
Some children have undergone amputations to survive, bearing lifelong scars, and many have lost family members, leaving behind an uncertain future. Lina Gamal, Shaymaa’s aunt and caretaker, expressed her feelings of isolation. “Italy is beautiful, but I need support,” she stated, emphasizing the void left by the family she had to leave behind.
Despite their challenges, the evacuees consider themselves fortunate compared to the fate of many others. Since Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, over 40,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed, with tens of thousands more suffering from permanent disabilities in a devastated Gaza.
As these children focus on their recovery, they are also faced with the difficulty of integrating into new social environments, such as schools and summer camps. These are spaces filled with peers unfamiliar with their language and the traumatic experiences they have endured back home. The path ahead remains fraught with obstacles, yet these brave young individuals are determined to overcome their circumstances.
