Gaza Amputees Navigate Legal and Medical Challenges in Egyptian Clinics
At the height of the Israel-Gaza conflict, statistics revealed a harrowing reality: approximately ten children per day were losing one or both legs due to violent strikes. For survivors like Ola Jamal, crossing the border into Egypt for medical assistance marks merely the initial phase of an arduous journey toward recovery, compounded by legal uncertainties and deep psychological scars.
A Mother's Trauma and the Path to Prosthetics
Ola Jamal, a 36-year-old teacher from Gaza, was breastfeeding her two-month-old son, Zain, when a missile struck al-Nasr hospital in November 2023. Shrapnel pierced her arm as she cradled her infant, leading to a chaotic evacuation. "I ran with my family to the hospital and stayed there to hide," Jamal recounts at a prosthetic centre in Cairo. "We thought it would be safe because it's a children's hospital." In the aftermath, she waited an hour for an ambulance to transport her to al-Shifa hospital, where her arm was amputated, separating her from her children for an extended period.
After a month, Jamal travelled to Egypt with her mother for further treatment, joining thousands of Palestinians grappling with life-altering injuries. According to the World Health Organization and the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 6,000 adults and children have undergone amputations since October 2023. The physical loss, however, is only the beginning of their struggles.
Legal Limbo and the Role of NGOs in Cairo
Egypt serves as the primary border crossing for amputees fleeing Gaza, yet most Palestinians entering for treatment find themselves in a state of legal limbo. They are typically not granted formal residency or refugee status, with the United Nations declining responsibility for their welfare. Without valid permits, survivors report being confined to hostels or shared flats, unable to work, and living under the constant strain of temporary status.
This lack of documentation severely hampers access to advanced, long-term prosthetic care, making non-governmental organizations (NGOs) crucial for support. Yousef El Deeb, a 25-year-old certified prosthetist at Orthomedics in Cairo, notes that his clinic has treated around 300 Palestinian patients since October 2023, largely funded by groups like the Turkish NGO Sadakataşı. "The finance for prosthetics is not possible for them," he explains. "NGOs are trying to help these people, which is good."
Personal Stories of Loss and Longing
Shadi Sharif Ayesh al-Sous, a father of two from Gaza, arrived at a Cairo clinic in February 2026 to try on his first prosthetic limb. He lost his leg after a missile strike on December 3, 2023, while collecting firewood in the al-Zahra area. Initially wounded below the knee, he sought treatment in Egypt to save his leg, but gangrene necessitated an amputation above the knee. "I want to return to Gaza because my daughters are there," he says. "I have put my name on the list. When I am allowed to leave, I will go back to my daughters."
For Jamal, the psychological impact extends to her children, particularly Zain, who was just two months old during the attack. "He still wakes up at the same time every night and cries during his sleep," she shares. "I told this to the doctor and they told me that it was because the body never forgets this kind of trauma." Separated for two years, Zain did not recognize his parents upon reunion, highlighting the enduring emotional toll.
The Broader Implications and Future Uncertainties
The challenges faced by Palestinian amputees in Egypt underscore a complex intersection of medical, legal, and humanitarian issues. While clinics in Cairo provide essential prosthetic services, the absence of stable residency creates barriers to sustained care and reintegration. Survivors like Omar Khaled, 24, who had his arm amputated in Gaza in 2013, continue to struggle with follow-up treatments and monitoring due to limited resources.
Despite the relative safety of Cairo, many families, including Jamal's, express a profound homesickness for Gaza, a place that may be irrevocably changed. "My children tell me every day, Mum, we want to go back to Gaza," she says, encapsulating the longing that persists amid recovery efforts. As the conflict's aftermath unfolds, the need for comprehensive support systems remains critical for those rebuilding their lives after devastating injuries.
