Palestinian Pediatrician Who Lost His Leg Remains Determined to Continue His Work in Gaza
Dr. Khaled Al-Sa'idani continues his life-saving work despite personal suffering, symbolizing hope in the face of war and devastation.
Watan–At the Martyrs of Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, in the center of the Gaza Strip, Palestinian pediatrician Khaled Al-Sa’idani stands as a witness to the suffering in the region, burdened by his physical and psychological wounds. Yet, he continues his humanitarian mission with exceptional determination, defying the loss of his right leg due to the Israeli genocide on the Gaza Strip.
In the pediatric department, where the moans of patients mix with the sighs of the siege, the fifty-year-old doctor—with his calm features—emerges as a symbol of resilience. He has spent decades of his life caring for patients, enduring the effects of the blockade and the harshness of daily life.
Lack of Medical Care Like many others from his people, the pediatrician faces the horrors of displacement, bombings, and shortages of water and food. He was injured in the Al-Bureij camp a few months ago, which exacerbated his suffering, especially with the absence of the necessary medical care. Despite needing complex surgeries, the siege imposed on Gaza prevents him from undergoing them.
Since the genocide began in Gaza on October 7, 2023, Israeli forces have systematically and continuously targeted medical facilities and hospitals across the region, causing the destruction of the healthcare system, a humanitarian catastrophe, and deterioration of infrastructure.
Israel has closed the Gaza Strip’s crossings, including the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, which it took control of on May 7, 2024, and destroyed. This has prevented thousands of wounded and sick people in Gaza from leaving for treatment abroad.
“Sick Children Need Me” With a smile that doesn’t conceal the depth of his suffering, Al-Sa’idani says to Anadolu, “When my leg was amputated, I felt for a moment that my life had stopped, but I soon realized that these children need me. The pediatric ward became my second home, and my duty to them is something I cannot abandon.”
Despite having a temporary prosthetic limb, the doctor faces daily challenges, the most prominent of which are the heaviness of the prosthetic and its lack of suitability to his body, making movement exhausting. He also suffers from severe shortages of food, water, and the necessary treatment for his condition.
He adds, “The prosthetic limb is heavy and uncomfortable, but it is better than a wheelchair. Now I can move with relative freedom, and this gives me the ability to continue my work.”
In addition to his injury, Al-Sa’idani suffers from complications due to diabetes, which increases his health challenges. However, he finds solace in the laughter of the children he treats, saying with a hopeful smile, “When I see children smile after treatment, I forget my pain. This is what drives me to continue.”
But behind that strength, there is an urgent need for help. The doctor requires complex surgeries and a permanent prosthetic limb, which are unavailable in the besieged area. He also suffers from a shortage of the necessary medication and displacement.
The doctor hopes for the end of the war and to travel abroad to receive treatment that could allow him to regain part of his normal life.
