Padova, Italy – Abdullah, 10, barely lifts his gaze from his pill as he performs his favorite online game, the place he creates a digital universe that lets him be something he imagines.
The beeping of the chemotherapy infusion pump delivering medication into his veins briefly brings his consideration again, and he fumbles for the charger of the plug-in gadget earlier than resuming his recreation.
Really helpful Tales
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His mom, Iman Ismail Mohammad Abu Mazid, says he picked up the gaming behavior after leaving Gaza on Could 14 for the Italian metropolis of Padova to obtain life-saving remedy for leukaemia.
Again in Deir el-Balah, town in central Gaza that the household referred to as dwelling, he was a “very sociable little one” who “would at all times be within the streets enjoying soccer along with his brothers and different kids his age,” she informed Al Jazeera, earlier than wanting by means of her telephone to retrieve an image of the boy she remembers.
In it, three well-groomed kids have a look at the digicam. Abdullah has the identical calm look, however his hair is now longer and his pores and skin has a tinge of yellow. Standing beside him within the image is Mohammad, who’s now 11, and Mahmoud, who’s eight. Towering above them and proudly putting his arms on their shoulders is their father, Ahmad.
The most cancers that consumes Abdullah additionally tore their household aside.
Whereas Abdullah, his mom Iman and one-year-old Qamar have been granted seats on a medical evacuation flight that took them to Italy, the remainder of the household – Ahmad and the opposite two kids, Mohammad and Mahmoud – stayed behind in Gaza, which Israel continues to bomb regardless of a ceasefire settlement being in place.
Now the illness may very well be what brings them again collectively. In early November, a staff of medical doctors in Gaza took blood samples from Abdullah’s siblings and despatched them to Italy to find out their compatibility as donors for the boy’s marrow transplant.
If one is a match, they are going to all be allowed onto a medical flight to Padova. If the outcomes are detrimental, they might want to apply to the Italian authorities for household reunion – a for much longer course of fraught with logistical challenges.
Iman stated the destiny of his household hangs on these outcomes. They may save Abdullah from the illness, and the remainder of their household from Israel’s genocidal struggle on Gaza.
“I concern for his or her security day-after-day,” she stated. “Abdullah misses his siblings, and I miss my kids, too.”
Abdullah shyly nodded in affirmation, including that he misses a properly executed kebab, too. He has no penchant for Italian meals and reminisces concerning the seasoned meat the household’s go-to restaurant in Deir el-Balah served.
Requested whether or not he want to carry Gaza to Padova, he stated, “Not all of it, simply my neighbourhood.”
Escaping struggle in Gaza
Iman discovered she was pregnant with Qamar in March 2024, because the struggle was raging round her. At first, she thought her interval had skipped as a result of she had been barely surviving on water and bread. When it turned obvious {that a} fourth little one was on the way in which, she remembers feeling “terrified”.
“I used to be continuously frightened and anxious that they’d inform me the child was deformed, irregular, sick,” due to the shortage of meals and sanitation, she stated. “My physique was exhausted, and I couldn’t stand. I spent my whole being pregnant mendacity on the ground,” she says quickly in Arabic, earlier than selecting up the toddler tugging insistently at her leg and putting her on her lap to feed her.
Her child woman was delivered in a tented area hospital in Deir el-Balah that lacked primary sanitation and medicines, as victims of Israeli bombardment have been rushed in.
“You would see somebody injured at any second – an amputated limb, an amputated hand … The scenes have been horrific,” she stated. “And the medical doctors have been nervous as a result of the realm was being focused.”
Months later, in April this yr, Abdullah began feeling sick.
“He was yellow, had stomach cramps, a headache,” she stated.
On the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir el-Balah, Abdullah was strapped to an IV and given painkillers and antibiotics. The fluids stored the fever from spiking, however nothing may cease the most cancers from spreading.
The household was suggested to take him to the European Hospital in Khan Younis, regardless of the Israeli military having introduced a serious enlargement of army operations within the space.
The ten-kilometre (six-mile) journey southward was “terrifying”.
“There wasn’t a soul on the road,” Iman remembered. Docs may solely provide diluted chemotherapy remedy. Abdullah was flagged to the World Well being Group (WHO) for medical evacuation.
Unexpectedly, medical evacuation was granted shortly afterwards. Iman and her husband, Ahmad, didn’t want phrases to take the choice to separate the household.
“There was extra silence than dialogue,” she stated.
Ahmad arrived on the European Hospital on Could 13 to bid Iman, Abdullah and Qamar an emotional farewell. As he was leaving the compound, the earth shook and a slab of concrete flew proper previous his head.
That day, the Israeli army introduced that they had dropped 9 bunker-busting bombs and dozens of different munitions on the hospital’s courtyard and surrounding space. They claimed to have killed Hamas chief Mohammed Sinwar and greater than 20 different members of the group. Worldwide legislation prohibits assaults on hospitals, which represent a struggle crime. Hamas confirmed Sinwar’s loss of life in August, however didn’t present particulars on how he died.
“I used to be satisfied that [my husband] had been killed,” Iman recalled.
“I stored calling him and screaming, saying, ‘I swear, he’s gone’,” she stated. “I referred to as 10 instances or extra, however he didn’t reply. I used to be sure he had been martyred. However I didn’t quit, I didn’t quit! After so many makes an attempt, lastly, he answered.”
A brand new life away from dwelling
Abdullah is amongst greater than 5,500 kids who’ve been evacuated from Gaza by means of medical evacuations coordinated by the WHO.
A complete of 8,000 individuals have thus far been capable of go away for life-saving remedy, however 16,500 individuals are nonetheless ready, in response to United Nations figures. Of these, 3,800 are kids.
Since July 2024, greater than 900 sufferers have died whereas awaiting medical evacuations, in response to the WHO.
Abdullah was taken to Padova due to the doggedness of lawyer Rebecca Fedetto, who in February based an organisation to facilitate and assist medical evacuations.
“I knew I wished to do one thing and be energetic,” she informed Al Jazeera. “I couldn’t stay usually, my conscience didn’t permit it.”
Fedetto labored the telephone searching for anybody who may assist her navigate the method of paperwork, approvals, and coordination required to supply a referral for a affected person to be moved to a medical facility overseas.
“At one level, I believed I wouldn’t make it, it was all so complicated,” she stated. “When it began to work out, I couldn’t imagine it.”
Her self-made NGO, Padova Abbraccia i Bambini (Padova Hugs Youngsters), has facilitated six medical evacuations, welcoming 25 individuals. Amongst them are six-year-old Ahmad, who’s recovering from third-degree burns on practically half of his physique, and eight-year-old Seela, who misplaced each legs.
A staff of volunteers caters to the households’ each want, providing transport, babysitting, homeschooling and emotional assist.
Fedetto stated town’s response has been overwhelmingly welcoming.
“Many individuals have emailed us asking if they might assist, as a result of this struggle is one thing that touches our conscience” she stated. “Typically individuals need to assist, they only don’t know the way.”
WHO has appealed for nations to supply extra medical evacuations, as Gaza’s healthcare stays restricted. Solely 18 hospitals out of 36 are partially purposeful.
Greater than 30 nations have thus far heeded the decision, together with European Union member states, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
“We’re grateful for his or her solidarity,” Rik Peeperkorn, WHO’s consultant for the occupied Palestinian territory, informed Al Jazeera.
Peeperkorn stated that below the phrases of the ceasefire, WHO ought to be capable to evacuate 50 sufferers per day, along with their caregivers.
“To make this attainable, extra nations should step ahead with generosity and settle for sufferers in want,” he stated.
