🧵 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐳𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

The ongoing genocide in Gaza has left a generation of children facing life-altering injuries. Thousands of children have lost their limbs, their ability to walk, and in many cases, their sense of hope. The pain they endure, both physical and psychological, has been made even worse by a lack of adequate medical care. The destruction of healthcare infrastructure and a continued blockade on humanitarian aid. As the world watches, the plight of Gaza’s child amputees remains a forgotten crisis. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙪𝙧𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝘼𝙢𝙥𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙨: 𝘼𝙣 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝘾𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙨

As of early 2025, the Gaza Strip has the highest number of child amputees per capita anywhere in the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that between 3,000 and 4,000 children have had limbs amputated since October 2023. Many of these children suffered severe injuries due to airstrikes, shelling, and other forms of violence. With medical staff often unable to provide timely treatment due to a lack of supplies and functioning hospitals.

The pain and trauma faced by these children are unimaginable. Children like Ghazal, a 4-year-old girl who lost her leg in an airstrike, or Ritaj, an 8-year-old who had her leg amputated three times after an Israeli airstrike. This shows the cruel reality faced by Gaza’s youngest victims. The trauma isn’t just physical; it’s emotional and psychological, as these children are forced to grow up where their injuries compound their grief and fear.

🧵 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗮𝘇𝗮 ♀️

In Gaza, where every day is a battle for survival, there exists a hidden crisis,
one that is felt deeply by women who are facing unimaginable hardships. The
brutal genocide has left thousands of women trapped in a cycle of violence,
displacement, and deprivation, with nowhere to turn for safety. As Gaza’s
health system collapses under the strain of relentless bombing and blockades,
women, especially pregnant women, are bearing the heaviest burden. What’s
often overlooked in the daily updates on the destruction is the severe toll this
conflict is taking on their health, their lives, and, crucially, the future of their
children. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲: 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸

The ongoing genocide in Gaza has placed pregnant women in an impossible
position. Many were forced to flee their homes due to the unceasing
bombardment, seeking refuge in overcrowded spaces or makeshift tents. Yet,
even within these temporary shelters, they were not safe. Asmaa Ahmed, a 31-
year-old mother describes the terror of giving birth in the middle of the night
in a Gaza City school that had no electricity. “I was very, very afraid to lose the
baby,” she recalls. With no access to proper medical equipment and only the
dim light of a mobile phone to guide the doctor’s hands, the birth of her son
was just one of many similar stories. This isn’t simply a crisis; it’s a fight for
survival.

Across Gaza, approximately 52,000 pregnant women were facing
overwhelming challenges. Their lives, and the lives of their babies, are at risk
every single day. The lack of adequate maternal care, coupled with a scarcity of
clean sanitary products like pads, means these women are struggling in ways
that most can barely imagine. Pregnancy in Gaza has transformed into a
perilous journey, with miscarriage rates rising sharply and maternal mortality
spiking. Doctors and nurses, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of patients, are

forced to work in makeshift hospitals or even on the streets to assist with
deliveries in conditions that should be considered unthinkable.

🧵 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬: 𝐎𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

In Gaza and the West Bank, the detention of children by occupation forces has become a devastating, yet ongoing reality. Every year, hundreds of Palestinian minors, some as young as 10, are arrested, detained. The most common charge is stone-throwing, often in response to the occupation and its violent repercussions. However, these children face far more than legal punishment; they endure physical and psychological abuse that leaves indelible marks on their lives. 𝘼 𝙎𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙢 𝙤𝙛 𝘼𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙚: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙋𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝘿𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣

According to organisations such as Defence for Children International – Palestine (DCIP), the routine detention of Palestinian children by occupational forces is a severe violation of international law. The conditions under which these minors are held are both shocking and inhumane. Children are subjected to isolation, physical abuse, and psychological torment. Often for prolonged periods, with little regard for their well-being or rights. This system of abuse is not a series of isolated incidents but a part of a larger, systematic practice of oppression.

𝘿𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄𝙣𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨: 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙥 𝙎𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘿𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 👇

🧵 𝗗𝗿. 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗮 𝗘𝗹𝗺𝗮𝘀𝗿𝗶: 𝗔 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵, 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗮𝘇𝗮’𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻

The news of Dr. Mustafa Elmasri’s passing deeply saddened me. He was not only a pillar for the community but also an icon who left an indelible mark on Gaza, especially in the lives of its children. His work, dedication, and bravery in the face of overwhelming adversity have inspired so many. His legacy lives on in ways we could never have imagined.

Dr. Elmasri was not just a psychologist; he was a pillar of support for countless children who had been scarred by the horrors of war. His tireless efforts in providing psychological support to children living under occupation were invaluable. He used creative methods, such as art therapy, to help these children express their trauma and start the healing process. His ability to understand the human psyche and combine it with therapeutic techniques made him a true pioneer in his field. 𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙒𝙖𝙨 𝘿𝙧. 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙛𝙖 𝙀𝙡𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙧𝙞?

Dr. Mustafa Elmasri was a Palestinian psychiatrist, educator, and advocate who dedicated his life to supporting the children of Gaza. After receiving his medical degree from Alexandria University and a psychiatry degree in 1996 from Ain Shams University in Egypt, Dr. Elmasri began his career as a psychiatrist. He started working at the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme, where he served as a clinical psychiatrist, researcher, and clinical supervisor.

His professional background was vast and far-reaching, Dr. Elmasri worked in several developing countries, designing and implementing psychosocial and mental health programmes aimed at helping children, women, and adults exposed to trauma from war, conflict, and political violence. His expertise wasn’t just rooted in theory; it was grounded in real-world experience, dealing with some of the most vulnerable populations affected by war.

In Gaza, his work focused on providing psychological care to children who had witnessed unimaginable violence. Recognising that many children in Gaza were unable to process their emotions verbally, Dr. Elmasri often used art as a tool for therapy. By encouraging children to draw their feelings, he helped them communicate their pain, fears and hopes in a way that words could not.

Though not an artist himself, Dr. Elmasri understood the therapeutic power of art and used it as a means to help children heal from their traumatic experiences. His workshops provided a safe space for children to express themselves and begin to understand their emotions in a supportive environment.

🧵 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝐆𝐚𝐳𝐚’𝐬 𝐎𝐫𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐬

In Gaza, a tragedy of unimaginable scale continues to unfold, one that haunts the very heart of humanity. Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s brutal onslaught on the Gaza Strip has left a trail of devastation. Thousands of lives have been lost. Amid the wreckage and rubble, one group stands out in its grief and loss: the children. Gaza’s children, born into a life already shadowed by hardship, have now faced the wrath of a genocide they did nothing to deserve. 🧒 𝘼 𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙇𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙒𝙖𝙧

More than 17,000 children are currently separated from their families in Gaza, their innocence shattered by the brutality of war. Among them, at least 38,000 have been orphaned. This staggering figure speaks to a far deeper crisis than simply the loss of life. It speaks to the loss of futures, of potential, of the bright smiles that should have lit up Gaza’s streets. Now, those smiles have been replaced with tears of unimaginable sorrow.

🧵 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗢𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗲: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗨𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗮𝘇𝗮

In a land where life constantly tests your spirit, where mornings begin with smoke instead of sunlight, and where survival has become a daily mission, one woman stands tall, unwavering, rooted like an ancient olive tree.

My name is Doaa Ibrahim Al-Minawi, and I am a mathematics teacher at Gaza Great Minds School. I am also a mother, a daughter of a martyr, a sister to a martyr, and a woman who refuses to let despair define her story. Growing up, I watched my father, Professor Ibrahim Al-Minawiteach with passion and purpose. He wasn’t just a teacher; he was a beacon of wisdom and compassion. Even after he was killed, he remained my guide. In every step I take, I still hear his voice. I chose to study at the Islamic University of Gaza in his honor, carrying forward the light he sparked in our home.

But life before this war is nothing like life after.

🧵 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗮𝘇𝗮 ♀️

In Gaza, where every day is a battle for survival, there exists a hidden crisis,
one that is felt deeply by women who are facing unimaginable hardships. The
brutal genocide has left thousands of women trapped in a cycle of violence,
displacement, and deprivation, with nowhere to turn for safety. As Gaza’s
health system collapses under the strain of relentless bombing and blockades,
women, especially pregnant women, are bearing the heaviest burden. What’s
often overlooked in the daily updates on the destruction is the severe toll this
conflict is taking on their health, their lives, and, crucially, the future of their
children. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲: 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸

The ongoing genocide in Gaza has placed pregnant women in an impossible
position. Many were forced to flee their homes due to the unceasing
bombardment, seeking refuge in overcrowded spaces or makeshift tents. Yet,
even within these temporary shelters, they were not safe. Asmaa Ahmed, a 31-
year-old mother describes the terror of giving birth in the middle of the night
in a Gaza City school that had no electricity. “I was very, very afraid to lose the
baby,” she recalls. With no access to proper medical equipment and only the
dim light of a mobile phone to guide the doctor’s hands, the birth of her son
was just one of many similar stories. This isn’t simply a crisis; it’s a fight for
survival.

Across Gaza, approximately 52,000 pregnant women were facing
overwhelming challenges. Their lives, and the lives of their babies, are at risk
every single day. The lack of adequate maternal care, coupled with a scarcity of
clean sanitary products like pads, means these women are struggling in ways
that most can barely imagine. Pregnancy in Gaza has transformed into a
perilous journey, with miscarriage rates rising sharply and maternal mortality
spiking. Doctors and nurses, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of patients, are

forced to work in makeshift hospitals or even on the streets to assist with
deliveries in conditions that should be considered unthinkable.