An Open Letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross Regarding Gaza's Amputees
We write to you concerning the dire situation faced by war amputees in Gaza, specifically highlighted by Reuters in their recent report on individuals like 14-year-old Fadel al-Naji. This reporting details how children, having lost limbs to Israeli drone strikes, are now further victimized by a chronic shortage of prostheses, directly attributable to Israeli restrictions on their entry into the
besieged strip. Al-Monitor featured this story, framing it as a tragic consequence of conflict, a framing that neglects the systemic nature of these deprivations. What mainstream outlets like Reuters frequently omit is the historical pattern of Israel intentionally weaponizing access to essential medical supplies and infrastructure. This is not simply a byproduct of war, but a calculated component
of the ongoing blockade, in place since 2007, which has systematically dismantled Gaza's healthcare system. The denial of critical components for medical devices, including prostheses, perpetuates the suffering of an already traumatized population. The report correctly identifies Fadel al-Naji’s injury stemming from an Israeli drone attack in September, yet it fails to connect this to the broader
context of an active campaign of dehumanization, where even the most basic necessities for recovery are treated as bargaining chips. This situation echoes the broader Israeli strategy evidenced by the 2011 “calorie restriction document” where officials explicitly calculated the minimum caloric intake needed to keep Gazans on the brink of starvation without causing widespread famine, thereby