Safa Fadl Shehada Barbekh, 29 years old, a mother of three children and a resident of Khan Younis.

Date of Testimony: January 11, 2025 

I am married to Basel Shawqi Ouda Al-Loulahi, and we previously lived in an apartment in an area near the city of Rafah, close to Qeizan Abu Rashwan, south of Khan Younis.

On the morning of October 7, 2023, at approximately 6:30 AM, while we were having breakfast, we suddenly heard loud explosions and the terrifying sound of rocket fire. Immediately, we followed the news and realized that it marked the beginning of a war. My husband, children, and I decided to stay at home, fearing any potential danger. As the days passed, the situation worsened, and the displacement affected all areas of Gaza, with attacks reaching every part of the strip.

Over time, we began suffering from shortages of basic necessities like electricity, water, and food. We had to transport water from distant areas due to the disruption of the municipal water lines. For drinking water, we had to purchase it, but its price kept increasing. We also faced a severe food shortage, and for long periods, we only had canned food, which was unsuitable for young children. However, with no alternatives, we had no choice but to feed it to our kids.

On May 28, 2024, we received threats from the Israeli army to evacuate the area ahead of military operations. Since we lived in a district of Rafah, we decided to leave and head to the Qeizan Abu Rashwan area south of Khan Younis, which was only a short distance from our home. We stayed there in a tent, but we couldn’t remain for long due to the advancing Israeli tanks, which began randomly shelling and firing at the area. Fearing for our safety, we decided to leave.

We then moved to the regional park in Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis, where the situation was dire due to the large number of displaced people and the lack of basic necessities. We set up a tent and a bathroom, while continuing to transport water from distant sources. On top of that, the Israeli army periodically conducted incursions and shelling in the area. Israeli drones, particularly quadcopters, were always in the sky, frequently targeting the displaced population, resulting in several injuries. There was no safe place left in Gaza to escape to.

On December 28, 2024, around 8:00 AM, the Israeli tanks withdrew from our original area of residence, so I went with my children to retrieve some essential supplies, including clothes and blankets, to shield us from the severe cold in the tents. While preparing these supplies, I went in search of my young son, Shawqi (7 years old), who was not at the house. I found him lying on the ground, his eyes and hands bleeding, with shrapnel scattered throughout his body. He had been targeted by Israeli forces while standing at the door of our house. Israeli quadcopters were hovering over the area, firing at and dropping bombs on the vicinity, causing my child’s injuries.

I rushed my son to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where the doctors immediately diagnosed his condition and admitted him to the ICU, as he was completely unconscious. After conducting several tests, the doctors decided to perform an emergency surgery to remove parts of his intestines, which had been severely damaged by the shrapnel. His right hand was completely amputated, and he lost sight in his right eye. After three days, he regained consciousness, but the doctors urgently recommended that we seek treatment abroad for his vision loss and the need for prosthetic limbs.

We are currently awaiting approval for his urgent medical transfer for treatment.