Rasha Abu Sbeaka's struggle is a stark reminder that even after an explosive ceasefire, the damage inflicted by Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza lingers, claiming new lives and further devastating the already-battered Palestinian population. The 35-year-old Rasha narrowly survived four bombings and twice being pulled from rubble but her life was left in tatters when she developed stage 3 breast cancer during the conflict.
The destruction of Gaza's medical sector and Israel's closure of crossing out of the enclave that could allow her to receive treatment abroad, meant Abu Sbeaka is unable to access the care she urgently needs to survive. "I used to hug and kiss my children every day because I thought I was on my deathbed," she said in an interview with Al Jazeera.
The situation highlights everything being 'at a standstill' for Gaza's residents who require medical treatment but face a plethora of bureaucratic hurdles that make it impossible to leave the besieged territory. According to World Health Organization (WHO), just 41 patients, including 3,800 children out of 15,000 in need of evacuation have managed so far.
Abu Sbeaka says she and fellow cancer patients are determined to beat the disease but can only do so if Israel opens the crossings to allow for medical evacuations. She is among many Palestinians whose lives were shattered during the war when their loved ones were killed or kidnapped by Israeli forces.
A recent report revealed that Mervat Sarhan, another Palestinian released from Israeli prison after nearly five months of detention, endured beatings and electric shocks while being interrogated about her husband's contacts with alleged Hamas militants. Her release was part of a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and the Palestinian Authority but it has left her shattered.
Sarhan described how she witnessed her husband's brutal killing in front of their terrified children by Israeli special forces disguised as women. The ordeal highlights the human toll of war on civilians, many of whom have been subjected to torture and abuse while being held captive in Israeli detention centers.
The destruction of Gaza's medical sector and Israel's closure of crossing out of the enclave that could allow her to receive treatment abroad, meant Abu Sbeaka is unable to access the care she urgently needs to survive. "I used to hug and kiss my children every day because I thought I was on my deathbed," she said in an interview with Al Jazeera.
The situation highlights everything being 'at a standstill' for Gaza's residents who require medical treatment but face a plethora of bureaucratic hurdles that make it impossible to leave the besieged territory. According to World Health Organization (WHO), just 41 patients, including 3,800 children out of 15,000 in need of evacuation have managed so far.
Abu Sbeaka says she and fellow cancer patients are determined to beat the disease but can only do so if Israel opens the crossings to allow for medical evacuations. She is among many Palestinians whose lives were shattered during the war when their loved ones were killed or kidnapped by Israeli forces.
A recent report revealed that Mervat Sarhan, another Palestinian released from Israeli prison after nearly five months of detention, endured beatings and electric shocks while being interrogated about her husband's contacts with alleged Hamas militants. Her release was part of a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and the Palestinian Authority but it has left her shattered.
Sarhan described how she witnessed her husband's brutal killing in front of their terrified children by Israeli special forces disguised as women. The ordeal highlights the human toll of war on civilians, many of whom have been subjected to torture and abuse while being held captive in Israeli detention centers.
u guys dont understand how bad things are for gaza ppl its not just about the bombings and destruction they also got mental health issues cuz of all the trauma they went thru 
my cousin's brother was in gaza during that war he said it was like living in a nightmare constant fear and anxiety he almost lost his mind 
but what pisses me off is that even after everything thats happened ppl still cant get medical attention its like israel dont care about human life or somethin 
5 yrs on from the war and gaza stil got no proper healthcare system its a disaster 
it's just so heartbreaking to think about rasha abu sbeaka struggling with breast cancer after surviving the devastating effects of israel's genocidal war on gaza... 4 bombings & being pulled from rubble 
can't even imagine how tough her life must be now, stuck in a cycle of bureaucratic hurdles trying to get medical treatment abroad 
. it's not just about the physical toll, but also the emotional trauma of watching her children grow up without their dad 
. and what's really appalling is that these stories are all too common for palestinians living under israeli occupation 
we need to keep raising awareness about the human cost of war & push for a peaceful resolution ASAP 
.
I'm literally shaking thinking about all the ppl in Gaza who cant get the meds they need 
& Mervat Sarhan's story? 
it's like torture all over again 
#JusticeForGaza #FreePalestine