Meet one of Gaza’s few prosthetic experts helping the thousands of Palestinians who lost limbs in the war

As the fragile ceasefire in Gaza continues to hold, Palestinians have been returning to what is left of their lives after two years of relentless bombardment.

But thousands of those who survived Israel’s assault on the enclave face the challenge of life-altering injuries they suffered during the conflict.

There are more than 6,000 prosthetics currently needed in Gaza, many of which are for children, according to the World Health Organisation.

And there are precious few people on the ground who have the expertise to help them.

Heba, who works for the charity Humanity & Inclusion, is one of just eight prosthetic technicians left in Gaza. She examines people’s amputations, measures their stumps and makes moulds for both leg and arm prostheses.

“We see people living with amputations whose stories of loss are heartbreaking and unimaginable,” the mother-of-two said. “Many of them are the sole survivors of their families, carrying both the physical and emotional weight of that traumatic experience.”

The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said the war has created the “largest cohort of child amputees in modern history”.

“In the Gaza Strip, where people are constantly and repeatedly forced to move due to forced displacement and insecurity, a prosthesis is not just a medical device, it is a lifeline,” Heba explained.

“It allows people to walk again, care for their families and themselves, and face daily challenges with more strength. Without prosthetics, many would remain completely dependent on others at a time when families and communities are already under immense pressure.”

Heba provides temporary prosthetic devices for people with lower-limb amputations.

But she says Israeli authorities have blocked most prosthetic components from entering Gaza during the war, labelling them as “dual-use” items, which are materials that could be repurposed for military use.

It has made her team’s job that much more difficult as they lack some of the basic parts needed to help those who have lost limbs. Israel’s military aid agency Cogat did not respond to a request for comment.

Now the ceasefire is in place, Heba hopes vital equipment will finally be allowed through border crossings.

“With this ceasefire we are ready to scale up our activities and are hoping to support more and more people in our prosthetics and orthotics centre,” she explained.

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