Child Saeed: Survived the Massacre, Now Falls Prey to Cancer

Saeed Jouda, who survived an Israeli airstrike in November 2023 and lost his father and sister, has been diagnosed with leukemia after more than two years. No treatment is available in Gaza, and his condition has deteriorated rapidly with platelet count dropping to 2 and hemoglobin to 4. His mother appeals to international health organizations to evacuate him for treatment abroad.

Saeed Jouda, who survived an Israeli airstrike that targeted his family home on November 16, 2023, killing his father and sister Basant and injuring his younger brother Ayyam in the face, is now fighting a new battle with leukemia. More than two years after the tragedy, Saeed suffered severe abdominal pain three months ago, and after a month and a half of diagnosis amid a lack of medical capabilities, he was found to have leukemia, which has no treatment in Gaza. The only solution is a bone marrow transplant, a procedure not performed in the Strip. His condition deteriorated rapidly: platelet count reached only 2 (normal range 150,000-400,000), and hemoglobin was only 4. Doctors are amazed he is still alive and can only give him two units of blood daily. His mother Fatima Jouda appeals to international health organizations to evacuate him for treatment abroad, stressing that time is critical. The Gaza Ministry of Health indicates that the lives of more than 4,000 cancer patients are threatened due to drug shortages.