ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — The primary planeload of Palestinian youngsters wounded within the Israel-Hamas struggle raging within the Gaza Strip reached the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, a part of a pledged reduction effort by the nation to assist 1,000 youngsters.
The group of 15 individuals, together with youngsters and their relations, made it throughout the Gaza Strip’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Friday. They then took a flight to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the Emirates.
Younger youngsters lay asleep on their mothers’ laps because the airplane lastly landed at Abu Dhabi Worldwide Airport. Among the seats of the airplane have been eliminated to make room for probably the most critically wounded youngsters, who wanted to lie on stretchers.
Among the younger had bandaged legs and arms. Others sat quietly subsequent to their dad and mom or relations. Some traveled alone. The temper was somber and quiet contained in the airplane. Lots of the moms stated they have been exhausted.
Twelve-year-old Amr Jandieh, his eyes welling up with tears, stated he traveled to the Emirates alone.
“My dad, uncle, and I have been speaking on the road,” Jandieh stated. “My uncle was killed. My dad was injured … abruptly a missile hit and I misplaced consciousness. I awakened and located myself within the hospital.”
Mohammed Abu Tabikh, 14, was one of many extra severely wounded youngsters on the airplane. He suffered accidents to his neck and backbone when a automobile he was touring in was hit in a strike.
“After I received injured, I felt shock. After which I ended shifting,” he quietly stated earlier than being introduced fastidiously out of the airplane.
Nabila Mahmoud traveled from the Gaza Strip together with her 17-year-old daughter Rawan, who suffered a damaged pelvis. Mahmoud stated their home was hit by a direct missile and 13 of her relations have been killed.
The struggle, now in its seventh week, was triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault in southern Israel that killed about 1,200 individuals. The militant group additionally kidnapped some 240 males, ladies and youngsters.
Israel’s ongoing retaliatory army strikes on Gaza has thus far killed greater than 11,400 Palestinians, two-thirds of them ladies and youngsters, in accordance with Palestinian well being authorities. One other 2,700 have been reported lacking, believed buried below rubble.
The UAE — a federation of seven emirates on the Arabian Peninsula additionally residence to Dubai — has diplomatic relations with Israel following a 2020 recognition deal.