Gaza teenager continues playing football despite losing leg in strike

Salih Ahmed Hamid, a 13-year-old from the Shuja'iyya neighborhood in eastern Gaza City, continues to play football despite losing his right leg in an Israeli strike in 2021. Using a handmade prosthetic, Salih joins his friends to play whenever possible, stating, “Football is one of the ways to hold onto life.”

His father, Ahmed Hamid, noted that before the strike, Salih attended school and lived a normal life. He emphasized that his son requires regular medical treatment and a more suitable prosthetic to improve his mobility and daily life.

This individual case reflects a broader humanitarian crisis in the region. According to UNICEF, more than 11,000 children in Gaza require long-term care and rehabilitation due to life-altering injuries. Furthermore, World Health Organization (WHO) estimates indicate that since October 2023, over 5,000 people in the Gaza Strip have suffered limb amputations.