Disabled Palestinian family faces new hardships amid Gaza war

GAZA CITY, Palestine

The Al-Namla family from the Gaza Strip which was left disabled in attacks by Israel on the enclave in 2014, are struggling to survive since Oct. 7.

In the attacks 10 years ago, the father, Wael Al-Namla, lost one leg, his wife lost both legs and their son lost a leg and his eyesight.

The family, who have supported each other through the difficult times, are now trying to get through the conditions brought by the latest Israeli onslaught that began in early October.

The family had their home destroyed in attacks on the southern city of Rafah, forcing them to migrate to the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. On the way, they faced significant challenges.

Migration journey fraught with obstacles

“We are a disabled family. We were already trying to hold on to life under difficult conditions. But this last war turned everything upside down,” the 37-year-old father told Anadolu. “Yes, life is a tough journey. We are trying to adapt to the current conditions. We are aware that everything can change in an instant.”

Al-Namla said his crutch was damaged and broke during the journey but the family managed to make it usable with primitive methods and completed the migration with difficulty.

He said his son Sharif, 11, used a prosthetic leg made with materials in Gaza and pushed his mother’s wheelchair during the trek.

The wheelchair broke en route, he said, and his son’s prosthetic was damaged during the attacks but the family tried to fix it themselves because the repair shops were closed.

He said the prosthetic broke three times and their repair attempts failed. Ultimately, they had to stabilize it with iron pieces, but that made the prosthetic heavy.

“Sharif can no longer walk comfortably with the prosthetic limb,” he said.

‘I help my father with bringing water and collecting wood’

“We were a happy family. We were full of hope and love. But everything changed in an instant,” Al-Namla said while playing ball with his son on one leg.

Sharif, who still smiles despite the loss of his leg and an eye, said: “I help my father with bringing water and collecting wood. I play ball with my father.”

Sharif hopes for the war to end and to have a suitable prosthetic so he can grow up and play like other children around the world.

Nearly 38,800 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and more than 89,100 injured, since Israel began its current onslaught against Gaza in October, according to local health authorities.

More than nine months into the assault, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, whose latest ruling ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.

*Writing by Seda Sevencan​​​​​​​