Children of War: A Glimpse into the Lives of Evacuated Gaza Kids

Sixteen young evacuees from Gaza, injured in the ongoing conflict, share their stories of survival and adaptation in Italy, facing language barriers and uncertain futures while navigating a new culture.

In a serene Italian summer camp, children gathered around six-year-old Shaymaa Shady, peppering her with questions about her lost leg. “Ha fatto la guerra,” one child suggested—an innocent presumption that she'd gone to war. Shaymaa, alongside 15 other children evacuated from Gaza earlier this year, urgently needed medical care after sustaining life-altering injuries. Sarah Yusuf, whose pelvis was shattered in an Israeli strike, finds joy in movement as she plays without limping. Meanwhile, four-year-old Ahmad al-Saafen struggles to learn how to walk again with his new prosthetic leg—an unsettling replacement for the limb he lost amidst relentless bombardments over a year prior.

Baian Azoum, just four years old, was pulled from the rubble of Gaza in dire condition and now faces a long journey of rehabilitation ahead. These children and their caretakers navigate a foreign land, grappling with language and cultural barriers, all while carrying the weight of lost families and uncertain futures.

Earlier evacuations were the result of complicated negotiations involving various organizations and governments, including Italy, Israel, and Egypt, prioritizing child welfare against a backdrop of relentless conflict. Many of these children now bear the physical and emotional scars of war, having left behind family members in perilous situations.

While grateful for their safety in Italy, the young evacuees express a longing for connection. “Italy is beautiful, but I need support,” said Lina Gamal, Shaymaa’s aunt and caretaker, noting the relatives she left behind. “As long as I have no one around me, it’s nothing.” Their stories echo a haunting backdrop; since the devastating October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, which has prompted severe military responses from Israel, over 40,000 Palestinians have reportedly died. As them and their caretakers adjust to recovery and rehabilitation, the children also face the challenge of blending into school and summer camp environments, surrounded by peers who know little of their grief and survival.