Gaza Child's Epic Battle After War Claims Family

Six-year-old Yaqoub Shehab, an orphan from Gaza, is experiencing profound suffering as he undergoes an extensive treatment for severe injuries sustained in a May 2025 attack that claimed his parents and infant brother and destroyed their home in Khan Younis. His aunt recounted the night of the attack, detailing how Yaqoub was found critically injured and later required 15 surgeries for head trauma, fractures, and extensive third-degree burns.

Physiotherapists at a British charity's clinic noted that Yaqoub's feet were initially at risk of amputation. The challenges of treating such complex, multi-layered injuries in Gaza are unprecedented, with immense pressure on healthcare workers and severely limited resources. The scale of suffering has fundamentally changed circumstances, leading to long and complicated recovery journeys for many.

Yaqoub and his older brother Murad, who also survived with a hip fracture, were evacuated to Egypt in May with their grandfather. While Yaqoub is regaining movement after rehabilitation, the trauma has left deep emotional scars. His grandfather expressed a prayer for peace and a return to normalcy for the children, highlighting the war's erasure of life's meaning.

Despite a ceasefire agreement nearly a year ago, healthcare facilities in Gaza continue to face threats, with recent reports of a patient killed by Israeli forces. Such incidents create fear and deter injured individuals from seeking essential medical treatment, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis.