In brief
Raseel al‑Balawi, a six‑year‑old Gaza resident, has survived an Israeli air strike that left her with catastrophic wounds. Since the attack, she has undergone more than 20 surgeries to control infection and manage the injuries prevailing in a hospital that is overwhelmed. Witnesses say the strike hit her tent in al‑Mawasi camp, and the Israeli military denies knowledge of the attack. Doctors on the front line are finding it increasingly difficult to provide care amid constant bombardment and broken infrastructure. The story highlights the personal human cost of the Gaza conflict as a child’s life hangs in the balance.
Raseel al‑Balawi, 6, is fighting for her life after an Israeli air strike hit her tent in the al‑Mawasi camp in Gaza. Since late July, she has been taken to the field hospital for more than 20 surgeries, doctors say.
Local witnesses describe a chaotic scene as heavy smoke pierced the narrow camp and struck the wooden structures where families stayed. The Israeli military has denied any operation in that area, yet casualty reports confirm the assault.
The medical team treating Raseel reports frequent complications. “Every time the wound is cleaned and stitches are placed, the infection spreads again,” one surgeon told reporters on the Gaza Strip. Each operation is now a race against escalating bacterial threats, with limited supplies and rising temperatures forcing rapid clinical decisions.
Raseel’s case is a stark reminder of how the Gaza war has turned hospitals into casualty islands. With roads blockaded, power outages, and ongoing bombardment, doctors can treat a few patients at a time and often have to perform multiple procedures in a single day.
BBC Eye Investigations followed Raseel throughout the summer, capturing moments as Israeli forces kept attacking surrounding neighborhoods. The documentary shows how children like Raseel are coping amid the near‑total destruction of vital infrastructure.
For those wanting to see the full story, the BBC World Service has a film on the iPlayer that delves deeper into the daily struggles of Gaza’s residents.
