Palestinian Boy, 13, Loses Leg After Israeli Soldiers' Brutal Attack in Gaza

A 13-year-old Palestinian boy, Mahmoud al-Dura, was shot by Israeli soldiers while gathering wood in Bureij refugee camp on 25 October 2025. The injury led to the amputation of his right leg above the thigh four days later. His family now lives in a severely damaged home at risk of collapse, with no safe alternatives.

Mahmoud was collecting firewood when soldiers opened fire, hitting him in the leg. Instead of receiving aid, he was detained for nine hours. During this time, reports state he endured brutal treatment: his wound was doused with Coca-Cola, and soldiers kicked his injured leg when he begged for water.

After his release, Mahmoud was left on the eastern side of Netzarim Road. His leg, already severely damaged, worsened without proper care. Doctors amputated it above the thigh shortly after he reached a hospital. The torture did not end there—he was tied with metal wires, and his leg was repeatedly pressed and kicked, intensifying his suffering.

Before the shooting, Mahmoud loved playing football. Now, he sleeps on the floor of a crumbling house, unable to afford a bed. His family cannot move to a tent due to the high risk of infection for his amputated leg. Despite everything, he hopes for a prosthetic limb to regain some mobility.

This incident is part of a broader crisis. Since October 2023, over 20,000 Palestinian children have died in Gaza due to violence and war-related causes, according to humanitarian groups and the Health Ministry. Total deaths exceed 72,000, with more than 20,000 children among them. Even after a ceasefire in October 2025, 202 children were killed by February 2026, and at least 157 died from starvation.

Mahmoud's case highlights the ongoing violence and displacement faced by Palestinian families in Gaza. His immediate future depends on medical support and a safe place to recover. Without intervention, his condition—and that of thousands like him—will only worsen.