Fri Jan 02 07:18:58 UTC 2026: Gaza Men Amputated by Israeli Attacks Cling to Hope for Prosthetic Limbs and a Future

Gaza City, Palestine – Abdullah Nattat and Diaa Abu Nahl, two cousins from Gaza, are facing a future drastically altered by the ongoing conflict. Both men have lost limbs as a result of Israeli attacks, and now rely on wheelchairs to move around. Despite their trauma, they are hoping for prosthetic limbs and a better life.

Abdullah, a 30-year-old former singer and wedding performer, lost both legs in an airstrike in September. He was returning from the market when the attack occurred, also claiming the life of his friend. He woke up in the hospital to find out both legs have been amputated.

Diaa, also 30, suffered an even greater loss. In July, an Israeli strike on his family home killed 22 people, including his wife and two young daughters, Hala (5) and Sama (3). Diaa lost his right leg in the attack and requires further surgeries to save his left.

“I keep thinking about how they died and I didn’t, even though I was right beside them,” said Diaa.

Living together in Diaa’s family home in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, the two men find solace in their shared suffering. They attend physiotherapy sessions when available, but resources are scarce. They dream of the day they can walk again with prosthetic limbs.

“After our legs once raced the wind, we now live on wheelchairs,” Abdullah said. “We need help with every step. Our bodies are weak and greatly affected by the cold. We need intensive treatment and prosthetic limbs, and none of this is available in Gaza right now.”

According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, approximately 6,000 limb amputations have been recorded since the beginning of the Israeli military operation in October 2023. Children account for a quarter of these cases. The Ministry emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive rehabilitation programs and advanced prosthetics for amputees in Gaza, which are currently unavailable.

Both Abdullah and Diaa yearn for the opportunity to travel abroad for treatment and prosthetic fittings. They hope for a future where they can regain their independence and rebuild their lives after enduring so much loss.

“As you can see, our most basic rights have become mere dreams and wishes – in a war we had no hand in,” Abdullah said. “We have lost so much over these past two years. We hope the coming year will bring compensation and better days.”

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