URGENT UPDATE: A devastating incident in Gaza has left six-year-old twins critically injured after mistaking unexploded ordnance for a toy. The tragic blast occurred as the siblings, Yahya and Nabila Shorbasi, were playing outside their severely damaged home in Gaza City on October 13, 2023.
Their grandfather, Tawfiq Shorbasi, recounted the harrowing moment: “It was like a toy,” he said, as the children were rushed to Shifa Hospital. This incident underscores the ongoing dangers faced by hundreds of thousands of returning Palestinians under the ceasefire that began on October 10.
As families sift through the rubble of their homes, the risk of encountering unexploded ordnance remains alarmingly high. Yahya is currently receiving treatment at Shifa Hospital, suffering from severe injuries including a lost hand and broken bones. Nabila is being treated at Patient’s Friends Hospital, facing life-threatening wounds as well. Both children underwent emergency surgery, but their futures hang in the balance due to the dire shortage of medical supplies in Gaza.
A British emergency physician treating the twins emphasized the gravity of their condition, stating, “Now it’s just a waiting game. I hope they both survive, but this is a common recurrence here.” The Health Ministry, which operates under the Hamas-run government, reports that at least five children have been injured by unexploded ordnance in the past week, with two others—Yazan and Jude Nour—injured in similar circumstances.
The current situation reveals a stark reality: over 68,500 Palestinians have died since the onset of the conflict, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. UN agencies confirm the figures as generally reliable, despite Israel disputing them without providing an alternative count.
Luke Irving, head of the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), warned that the risk of explosives is exceedingly high as displaced individuals return to their homes. “Explosive risk is incredibly high,” he stated, noting that at least 52 Palestinians have died and 267 others have been injured due to unexploded ordnance since the war began. Furthermore, 560 unexploded items have been found during the ongoing ceasefire, with many more likely buried in the rubble.
The urgent need for international de-mining efforts has been highlighted, with additional experts expected to join the recovery operations in the coming weeks. For now, families like the Shorbasis are left to grapple with the harrowing aftermath of a conflict that refuses to relent, as they seek to rebuild their lives amidst the ruins.
As the situation develops, local health workers continue to raise alarms about the threat of unexploded ordnance, calling it a “death trap” for returning families. The struggle for survival in Gaza continues, with the memory of innocent children like Yahya and Nabila serving as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war.
Stay tuned for updates on this urgent situation as it unfolds.
