Gaza Herald — Palestinian Ibrahim Abdel Nabi left his tent in the Gaza Strip searching for humanitarian aid for his family, as hunger tightened its grip and survival options grew increasingly limited. But what began as a desperate attempt to bring food home ended in tragedy when he was struck by an explosive bullet in the leg in the Al-Alam area west of Rafah, leading to an immediate amputation.
An Injury That Changed Everything
Ibrahim bled for nearly an hour and a half without receiving immediate medical assistance, a scene that reflects the chaos and danger surrounding aid distribution sites. Eventually, some people managed to transport him to a nearby Red Cross field hospital.
Between Surgery, Hunger, and Infection
At the hospital, Ibrahim spent around six weeks in critical condition, undergoing roughly 12 surgeries, most aimed at cleaning wounds and treating recurring infections.
He recalls that painful period, saying he suffered from severe malnutrition and major blood loss. “Each time the infection spread in my leg, doctors had to remove more tissue until I ended up in this condition,” he said.
His suffering worsened amid shortages of food and medicine, and he eventually left the hospital physically exhausted and facing a completely new reality after losing his leg.
Life in a Displacement Tent
Today, Ibrahim lives in a tent in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, where the hardship of disability is compounded by the relentless hunger affecting his family.
But the deepest pain, he says, is not only physical. It is hearing his four children ask for food. “When my children asked me for food, I was deeply hurt. They told me, ‘Dad, we don’t have flour,’” he said.
That moment became a turning point, pushing him to find a way to continue providing for his family despite his disability.
A Makeshift Prosthetic from Simple Materials
With no access to proper medical care or prosthetic limbs, Ibrahim and his wife turned to whatever materials they could find to build a basic artificial limb to help him move.
“I thought with my wife about making a prosthetic from the simplest available materials so I could bring aid and carry food. By the grace of God, I was able to walk on it,” he said.
Although extremely limited, he explains that the device only partially compensates for his disability. “It’s not good. It doesn’t even cover 20% of my disability, but it helps me bring food and water,” he added.
He continues with a painful acceptance: “I will use it even though it causes me pain, wounds, and infections. We have no other choice.”
A Family Holding On Amid Collapse
Inside their displacement tent, the family tries to endure despite overwhelming conditions. His wife stands beside him as he attempts to walk, gently encouraging him: “Don’t overexert yourself, take your time and go slowly.”
Trying to comfort him while holding back tears, she tells him: “This amputation will not change anything. It has only made us stronger and more dignified. God willed us to go through this, praise be to God.”
