In brief
A helicopter‑delivered Israeli air strike hit a tent in Gaza’s al‑Mawasi camp, sending six‑year‑old Raseel al‑Balawi into a relentless medical battle. Over 20 surgeries have been required to control infections in her wounds, as doctors fight a lack of supplies and infrastructure. Israel denies responsibility, while the BBC follows Raseel’s story, exposing the broader health crisis faced by civilians amid escalating hostilities.
Since a night‑time Israeli air strike in al‑Mawasi camp last month, six‑year‑old Raseel al‑Balawi has had more than twenty surgeries to keep infections from spreading.
The strike, allegedly delivered by an Israeli helicopter, shattered the tents and left Raseel with multiple wounds that have become a medical nightmare for the children’s doctors at the camp.
Doctors say repeated operations are the only way to keep the young girl’s injuries from turning into life‑threatening infections in the cramped, water‑scarce environment of Gaza.
Israel has denied the report, saying it has no record of hitting the camp and that it regrets any harm to civilians.
BBC’s Eye Investigations followed Raseel and her caretakers over the summer, documenting the daily struggle for basic hygiene in a war zone where hospitals are overrun and supplies run low.
For a fuller look at the conditions in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict, watch the BBC documentary on the iPlayer.
