Raseel al-Balawi Gaza: Six-Year-Old Undergoes More Than 20 Surgeries After Strike
Six-year-old Raseel al-Balawi has undergone more than 20 surgeries after being seriously injured in a strike in Gaza, as doctors continue trying to control infections in her wounds.
Raseel was injured in late July while staying with her family in a tent at the al-Mawasi displacement camp. Witnesses told the BBC that an Israeli helicopter strike hit the area where she was staying.
The Israeli military, however, said it has no record of the reported attack. It also said it regrets any harm caused to civilians.
Girl Faces Repeated Surgeries
Raseel has spent much of the summer receiving treatment for injuries sustained in the strike.
Doctors have had to carry out repeated operations because of infections affecting her wounds. Her treatment highlights the difficulties faced by medical teams working in Gaza, where hospitals and health services have been severely disrupted by the conflict.
Each surgery is part of an ongoing effort to prevent infections from worsening and to help the young patient recover from her injuries.
Raseel’s case has been documented by BBC Eye Investigations, which followed her treatment over several months.
Strike Hit Displacement Camp
The incident happened at al-Mawasi, an area where many Palestinians have sought shelter after being displaced by fighting elsewhere in Gaza.
Witnesses said Raseel’s tent was hit during an Israeli helicopter strike. The attack left her seriously injured and in need of extensive medical care.
The Israeli military has disputed the account in part by saying it has no record of the specific attack.
The circumstances surrounding the strike therefore remain contested, and no independent determination has been reported establishing exactly what happened.
Gaza Hospitals Face Severe Pressure
Raseel’s treatment is taking place against a wider healthcare crisis in Gaza.
Medical facilities have faced shortages of essential medicines, equipment, antibiotics and other supplies. Hospitals have also had to treat large numbers of people suffering injuries, infections and illnesses.
Doctors Without Borders has reported treating thousands of children for respiratory infections, gastroenteritis and skin infections in Gaza during 2026. The organisation has also warned about poor sanitation, overcrowded shelters and limited access to clean water.
These conditions can make recovery particularly difficult for children who have suffered serious injuries.
Infections Add to Raseel’s Struggle
For Raseel, the initial injuries have been followed by a long period of medical treatment.
Repeated operations are being used to manage infections and complications in her wounds. The need for continued surgery demonstrates how a single traumatic injury can require months of treatment.
Medical workers in Gaza have also described shortages that can complicate even routine procedures.
Nasser Hospital, one of the major medical facilities in southern Gaza, has reported shortages of antibiotics, anaesthesia and other supplies. Medical staff have said that a shortage of even one essential item can sometimes delay surgery.
A Child’s Recovery Amid War
Raseel’s story has become an example of the challenges facing children who survive serious injuries in Gaza.
Her treatment has continued while bombardment and displacement have affected healthcare services across the territory.
BBC investigators have followed her condition as doctors work to control the infections and manage the consequences of her injuries.
For the six-year-old, recovery remains a long process. Her repeated surgeries underline both the severity of her wounds and the difficulties faced by medical teams treating injured children amid Gaza’s continuing humanitarian and healthcare crisis.
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