Many injured Palestinians in Gaza are continuing to suffer long after the initial moments of the genocidal war, as shrapnel lodged in their bodies causes ongoing pain, disability and life-threatening complications. With medical facilities overwhelmed and operating under severe shortages, thousands remain unable to access the complex surgeries required to remove embedded fragments.

Hospitals describe a collapsing system in which operating theatres are damaged or non-functional, while essential equipment and specialised supplies are largely unavailable. Doctors say many cases require highly delicate procedures near nerves, bones or vital organs, but these interventions are repeatedly postponed due to the absence of surgical capacity and resources.

Among those affected is a 30-year-old man, Mohammad Shaaban, who survives with shrapnel in his spine and leg, leaving him reliant on a wheelchair and daily assistance. He describes constant pain, loss of mobility and dependence on physiotherapy paid for privately, after rehabilitation centres were destroyed and treatment options inside Gaza became severely limited.

A similar case is that of a four-year-old girl, Jouri Shahada, who has shrapnel lodged in her head, affecting her movement and causing intense neurological pain. Medical staff reportedly say the fragment can only be removed through specialised equipment not available locally, leaving her reliant on pain relief despite limited effectiveness.

Health officials estimate that around 10,000 injured people require advanced surgical care, while shortages in essential medicines and trauma supplies continue to worsen, exposing the scale of collapse in Gaza’s healthcare system amid the ongoing genocidal war.