Maps
Magazine

WORLD NEWS

Gaza Boy Battles Leukemia Amid War, Awaits Family Reunion in Italy
10-year-old Abdullah fights leukemia in Padova after escaping Gaza. Family split by war, hope rests on sibling marrow match for his survival.
MH
by Muhammad Hashir
2025-12-01
Gaza Boy Battles Leukemia Amid War, Awaits Family Reunion in Italy

Abdullah, 10, sits in an Italian hospital room in Padova, barely lifting his gaze from his tablet as he immerses himself in a video game. The beeping of a chemotherapy pump briefly interrupts his play, reminding him of the battle he is fighting against leukemia—a disease that has also torn his family apart.

Abdullah left Gaza on May 14 for life-saving treatment, while his father Ahmad and siblings Mohammad, 11, and Mahmoud, 8, remained behind in a conflict zone that continues to face Israeli bombardment despite a ceasefire. His mother, Iman Ismail Mohammad Abu Mazid, says the family’s fate now hinges on whether Abdullah’s siblings are compatible bone marrow donors. A positive match could reunite the family in Italy; a negative result would prolong their separation.

Back in Gaza, Abdullah had been a sociable child, playing football with his brothers. Today, he navigates a different reality, dreaming of kebabs from his hometown rather than Italian cuisine, and imagining bringing a piece of his neighbourhood to Padova.

The family’s journey from war to treatment was perilous. Iman, pregnant with her youngest, Qamar, endured her pregnancy amid constant bombardment and scarcity. When Abdullah fell ill in April, the family navigated dangerous streets and under-equipped hospitals, ultimately receiving approval for a medical evacuation coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Abdullah is one of over 5,500 children evacuated from Gaza for medical treatment, part of a broader effort that has reached 8,000 people so far. Yet, 16,500 patients—including 3,800 children—still await life-saving evacuations, and more than 900 patients have died while waiting, according to WHO data.

Padova Abbraccia i Bambini, an NGO founded by lawyer Rebecca Fedetto, facilitated Abdullah’s evacuation. The organisation assists families with travel, care, homeschooling, and emotional support. Fedetto said the response from local residents has been overwhelmingly welcoming.

Rik Peeperkorn, WHO’s representative for the occupied Palestinian territory, called on more countries to offer medical evacuations, emphasizing that Gaza’s healthcare system remains severely limited, with only 18 of 36 hospitals partially functional. Under the ceasefire, WHO hopes to evacuate 50 patients per day, along with their caregivers, but needs global support to make this possible.

For Abdullah, the hope of survival is intertwined with the hope of reuniting his family. Every medical test and every treatment carries the possibility of bringing them back together, and every day in Padova is a small step away from the horrors he left behind in Gaza.
Tagged:

Gaza

ChildHealth

Leukemia

MedicalEvacuation
Share News: