DaysofPal — Seven-year-old Hala Hassan Labad lies in a hospital bed at Al-Shifa Hospital, her small body wrapped in bandages after suffering severe burns in an Israeli airstrike that killed her entire immediate family in northwestern Gaza earlier this month.
Hala survived the early morning strike on June 4, which targeted her family’s apartment in a residential building on Intelligence Street.
The Israeli attack sparked a massive fire that engulfed the home, killing her father Hassan Labad (42), her mother Manar (40), and her siblings Tamim (9) and Rahaf (18). Only Hala and her older brother Mohammed (16) survived.
Now undergoing repeated skin graft surgeries, Hala faces a long and painful recovery. Doctors say she has sustained third- and fourth-degree burns to her hands and feet, with concerns that some fingers on her right hand may require amputation due to the severity of the injuries.
Despite her physical suffering, the emotional toll may be even greater. Unaware of the full extent of her loss, Hala continues to ask about her parents.
Family members initially told her they were injured, trying to shield her from the devastating truth. She has since been informed of her siblings’ deaths, a revelation that has left deep psychological scars, while she still believes her parents are alive.
“She keeps asking: ‘Where is my mom? Can she call me or send me a voice message or her picture?’” said her aunt, Haneen Labad, who has been caring for her at the hospital for the past three weeks.
Before the strike, Hala had been celebrating academic success with her family, proudly holding a certificate of excellence she now clutches tightly in her hospital bed, a painful reminder of a life that has been shattered.
Her brother Mohammed rarely leaves her side, attempting to fill the role of both parent and protector as she battles her injuries.
Meanwhile, medical staff at Al-Shifa Hospital are struggling with severe shortages of supplies and equipment, complicating her treatment.
Doctors have warned that Hala urgently needs advanced medical care and psychological rehabilitation outside Gaza, as local resources are insufficient for her condition.
The family’s tragedy unfolded rapidly. According to relatives, the apartment door could not be opened during the fire due to the locking system, forcing rescuers to break through a wall to pull survivors from the flames.
Hala’s relatives are now appealing to humanitarian organizations and international bodies to facilitate her evacuation for treatment abroad, warning that delays could lead to further deterioration in her condition.
Her story stands as a stark reminder of the human cost of the ongoing Israeli war, where childhoods are cut short, families erased, and survival itself becomes a lifelong burden.
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