RIYADH: Jamila, the 15-year-old Palestinian girl who lost her legs in an Israeli attack, is one of 1,855 children injured during the recent Israeli bombing of civilian homes in Gaza.
“On Sunday, Jan. 4, Jamila, her two sisters, brother and my daughter, her 13-year-old cousin, were playing on the roof of our house when a missile targeted them,” said Qussay Al-Habbash, Jamila’s uncle who accompanied her to Riyadh for medical help.
“Part of the house was destroyed; we rushed to the roof to check on the children. They were scattered everywhere,” said Al-Habbash, keeping his tears back.
He added that Jamila was seriously injured and bleeding heavily from both her legs. “While I was pulling her out from under the rubble, I noticed my daughter’s body. Her guts had come out and one leg was cut off,” said Qussay, adding that Jamila’s 11-year-old brother also lost a leg.
Jamila, who addressed the Arab Ministers of Health Conference on Jan. 13, sat in bed shaking while trying to remember the moments before the attack.
“We were all playing on the roof of our house where we thought we would be safe as it was quiet that afternoon and nothing seemed to be going on. All I could remember was waking up in hospital, not feeling my body,” she said.
“When I asked what happened and where my sisters, brother and cousin were. No one answered,” said Jamila with tear-filled eyes.
“I lost my sister and my legs, and my brother lost his leg. Why? I don’t know,” she said, adding, “What is the rest of the world waiting for? For Israel to wipe us out? Or for more children to be killed and mutilated?”
Although Jamila knows her injury will hinder her dreams of becoming a reporter, she is determined to be an ambassador of her people and tell the story of their suffering to the entire world.
While she dreams to leave bed, stand up and go to school, she considers herself lucky.
She hopes the world will see the reality of what is happening; that innocent children are being robbed of their dreams to live decent lives.
