Dreams shattered: Gaza amputees struggle under blockade and rubble

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that young amputees in Gaza are struggling to rebuild their lives amid destroyed infrastructure, restricted supplies and delays in rehabilitation. The story centers on Shurouq Khaira, 24, a former athlete in Gaza City’s Daraj neighbourhood who lost her right leg below the knee after shelling hit her family’s home in November 2023. She is waiting for a prosthetic leg while trying to reach physical therapy appointments across damaged streets and through a lack of affordable transport.

The article says Gaza’s health system has been overwhelmed by the war, leading to about 6,000 amputations since the conflict began, with children making up roughly a quarter of cases, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health and United Nations figures cited by the outlet. Doctors and rehabilitation specialists quoted by Al Jazeera say shortages of surgical supplies, prosthetic materials and trained staff have made treatment difficult, while imported items such as silicone, thermoplastics and mechanical joints remain restricted.

Al Jazeera also describes how some practitioners have turned to improvised prosthetics made from salvaged materials, though specialists warn these are not adequate replacements. Another patient, 18-year-old Shireen Abu al-Qumsan, is also waiting for prosthetic legs and treatment abroad after losing both legs in a May 2025 attack. The report places their experiences in the wider context of Gaza’s shattered roads, displacement and the physical and psychological burden faced by amputees, especially young people.