Ten-year-old Yazan Al-Sisi’s life changed forever when an Israeli missile struck his neighborhood in Al-Nuseirat, Gaza, leaving him paralyzed and battling severe health complications. What began as a joyful afternoon of playing with friends turned into a nightmare when a drone strike targeted the area, injuring Yazan and killing three other children. "A drone came while we were playing, and its sound was loud. Then the planes dropped a missile next to us, and we fell to the ground," Yazan recalls in a faint voice, his words filled with fear and despair.  

Yazan’s injuries are devastating. The blast caused damage to his bladder, forcing doctors to fit him with an external urine bag, and a spinal injury has left him unable to walk. Although there is a glimmer of hope—a slight response in his left foot during treatment—his recovery remains uncertain. His father, Ahmed Al-Sisi, recounts the harrowing moments after the attack: "They called me while I was at work, and he was transferred from Al-Awda Hospital to Deir al-Balah." The family’s life has since revolved around hospital visits and prayers for Yazan’s recovery.  

The attack on Yazan is part of the broader Israeli offensive on Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, and has claimed over 150,000 lives, most of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. The war has forced Yazan’s family into displacement, hunger, and constant fear. After fleeing to a tent in Rafah for three months, they returned to Al-Nuseirat, only to find no safe haven. "We try as much as possible to limit the children's movement to avoid harm," Ahmed says, "but Yazan's injury occurred right outside our home; it was God's will."  

Yazan’s suffering extends beyond his physical injuries. The war has robbed him of his childhood, his education, and even the simple joy of celebrating his birthday. For over a year, he has been unable to attend school or join educational tents due to his condition. "It is a shame for him to remain disabled at this age," his father laments. The family’s hopes now rest on securing treatment outside Gaza, a near-impossible task amid the ongoing siege and destruction of healthcare infrastructure.  

As Yazan lies in his hospital bed, his father’s anxieties grow. "I couldn't sleep at night while I took care of my children and ensured they were safe in the tent amid the cold, rain, hunger, and bombing," Ahmed says. Yazan’s story is a stark reminder of the human cost of Israel’s war on Gaza, where children are paying the heaviest price. His dreams of walking again and celebrating his birthday are now overshadowed by an uncertain future, a tragic testament to the brutality of occupation and war.