In brief
Raseel al‑Balawi, a six‑year‑old from al‑Mawasi camp near Gaza City, has endured more than 20 surgeries since an Israeli helicopter strike in late July. Witnesses say the strike struck her tent, leaving wounds that now require repeated operations to control severe infections. Israel denies any involvement and apologises for civilian harm, while local doctors, detailed by BBC Eye Investigations, struggle to treat a growing tide of injuries amid worsening conditions. The child’s ordeal highlights the dire lack of medical supplies and infrastructure in Gaza, where children bear the brunt of sustained bombardment.
Raseel al‑Balawi’s ordeal: more than 20 surgeries in a war-torn camp
The peaceful life of a six‑year‑old in Gaza’s al‑Mawasi camp was shattered when an Israeli helicopter strike hit her tent in late July. The blast left deep wounds that have spread infection, forcing Raseel to undergo an extraordinary number of surgical procedures.
Local sources say she has received over 20 operations since the strike. Each procedure is aimed at sterilising the injury and preventing life‑threatening infections, a task increasingly difficult because of shortages in supplies and overwhelmed health facilities.
The Israeli military has denied knowledge of the attack, stating that it “regrets any harm to civilians”. Yet witnesses and medical teams on the ground point to a pattern of indiscriminate strikes that devastate civilian shelters.
BBC Eye Investigations followed Raseel and her family across the summer months, documenting the daily challenges faced by healthcare workers. Their footage reveals a city where hospitals struggle with lack of clean water, electricity, and essential drugs, all of which compound the danger of treating infection‑laden wounds.
For Raseel, each surgery is a painful reminder of the conflict’s human cost. Her story echoes that of thousands of children caught in the violence, a stark illustration of why international attention to Gaza’s humanitarian crisis remains critical.
Watch the full BBC documentary on the iPlayer to see Raseel’s story in detail.
