In brief
Raseel al‑Balawi, a six‑year‑old from the al‑Mawasi camp in Gaza, has undergone more than twenty surgeries since an Israeli helicopter strike hit her tent in late July. Medical teams struggle to control recurring infections and severe wounds in a war zone where infrastructure is severely damaged. The Israeli military denies responsibility for the attack, stating it has no record of the strike. BBC Eye Investigations monitored Raseel’s treatment over the summer, documenting the harsh realities children face amid relentless bombardment. The story highlights the extraordinary resilience of children and the dire need for humanitarian aid in Gaza.
Six‑year‑old Raseel al‑Balawi in Gaza has had more than 20 surgeries since an Israeli air strike injured her in late July.
Witnesses say her tent in al‑Mawasi camp was hit by a strike from an Israeli helicopter, and she now must undergo frequent operations to try and control infections in her wounds.
Israel's military says it has no record of the attack and that it "regrets any harm to civilians".
BBC Eye Investigations spent time with Raseel across the summer, as the ceasefire falters and bombardment continues, to see the challenges doctors are facing in Gaza.
The BBC World Service has been filming across the summer in Gaza to reveal how children there are coping amid the near‑total destruction of the infrastructure they rely on to survive. Watch the full film on iPlayer.
