Medical challenges for Raseel al-Balawi
Since being injured in late July, six-year-old Raseel al-Balawi has required continuous surgical procedures to address complications arising from her wounds. Witnesses report that an Israeli helicopter strike hit her tent while she was residing in the al-Mawasi camp. The resulting injuries have led to recurring infections that necessitate frequent operations to try and control the spread of infection within her wounds.
To date, Raseel has undergone more than 20 surgeries. The medical situation highlights the extreme difficulty of treating severe trauma within the current Gaza healthcare environment. As the child's body attempts to heal, doctors are forced to perform these repeated operations to manage the ongoing infection issues caused by the initial strike.
Response from Israeli military
The Israeli military has addressed the reports regarding the strike in the al-Mawasi camp. According to the military, there is no official record of the specific attack mentioned by witnesses. However, the organization stated that it "regrets any harm to civilians."
Healthcare crisis in Gaza
The case of Raseel al-Balawi is part of a broader pattern of medical crises observed throughout the summer. As the ceasefire falters and bombardments continue, the destruction of essential infrastructure has severely limited the ability of medical professionals to provide sustained care. Children in the region face significant hurdles in survival due to the near-total destruction of the infrastructure they rely on to survive.
BBC Eye Investigations has spent time with Raseel across the summer to document these challenges. This work is part of a larger effort by the BBC World Service, which has been filming throughout the summer in Gaza to reveal how children are coping amid the collapse of the systems required for their survival. The full film documenting these conditions is available on iPlayer.