Wounded and isolated, young Osama Assaf now lives under the care of his grandmother after an airstrike destroyed his family home in northern Gaza, killing his parents and brother. The devastating strike, part of an ongoing bombardment campaign, struck the Assaf family residence in the Al-Tawam area after midnight, leaving Osama as the sole survivor.

His grandmother, who herself endured the loss of two daughters and their families in separate attacks, now shoulders the immense responsibility of caring for Osama’s severe physical injuries and the heavy emotional scars of trauma and grief. She recalled the night of the attack: “The explosion was so violent it threw Osama and his brother from the third floor into the street. Neighbours rushed to help and found Osama crying, which saved his life.”

Osama suffered multiple fractures, including injuries to his skull, jaw, right leg, and pelvis. He remains bedridden, immobilised by plaster casts, unable to move or walk without assistance. His grandmother explained the difficulties they face in meeting his special nutritional needs essential for healing, foods like eggs, tahini, and sesame are scarce and prohibitively expensive under the siege.

Beyond his physical wounds, Osama battles profound emotional pain. “He cries for hours every night, calling for his mother and father,” she said. “How can I explain such loss to a child?” Her voice carried the weight of a grief shared by many in Gaza.

She pleads for the reopening of border crossings to allow access to medical care, adequate nutrition, and psychological support for Osama and countless others enduring similar suffering. Like so many in Gaza, her simple hope is for the war to end and for life to return.

Recent figures show that thousands of families in Gaza have been wiped out or decimated, leaving lone survivors like Osama to bear the unbearable consequences of relentless violence and destruction.