A 6-year-old Palestinian girl, Ghada Dabebech, was severely injured in an Israeli airstrike on April 3 while playing on a swing at a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City. The attack led to the amputation of her right arm. Her father, Ahmed Dabebech, expressed hope that the border crossing would reopen soon, allowing his daughter to receive medical treatment and a prosthetic limb abroad.
The airstrike targeted the Dar Al-Arqam school building in Gaza City’s Tuffah neighborhood, which was sheltering displaced families. At least 27 people, including women and children, were killed in the attack. Israeli authorities claimed the building was used by Hamas militants as a command and control center, a charge Hamas denies.
Ghada’s injury is part of the growing devastation in Gaza since Israel resumed military operations on March 18, following a two-month pause. In that time, over 280,000 people have been displaced in Gaza. According to local health authorities, more than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a deadly raid on Israeli communities, killing 1,200 people and capturing over 250 hostages.
“We are witnessing acts of war in Gaza that show an utter disregard for human life,” said Corentin Duprey, president of the recycling plant in the area.
Despite the ongoing violence, peace talks mediated by Egypt and Qatar have stalled, adding to the suffering of the displaced families.