Ahmad Al Ghalban lost both legs in an air strike that killed his twin brother Mohammed. Handout
Ahmad Al Ghalban lost both legs in an air strike that killed his twin brother Mohammed. Handout
Ahmad Al Ghalban lost both legs in an air strike that killed his twin brother Mohammed. Handout
Ahmad Al Ghalban lost both legs in an air strike that killed his twin brother Mohammed. Handout

'When will I see again?': What Gaza's parents tell their children maimed by war


Nagham Mohanna
  • English
  • Arabic

In a small, dimly lit room in northern Gaza, Ahmad Al Ghalban, 16, lies on a mattress he cannot get up from.

Just a few months ago, he was sprinting down football fields, laughing alongside his twin brother Mohammed. Now, he is without both legs, and his brother was killed in the same air strike that tore Ahmad's life apart.

“I used to love walking, moving, playing. Now, I can't move from where I sit,” Ahmad told The National, his voice heavy with grief and disbelief. “I never imagined I would reach a state like this.”

Like thousands of children in the Gaza Strip, Ahmad is not only wounded by the physical violence of Israel's war but is also battling the silent, lingering pain of trauma and loss. What makes survival possible, in many cases, is something both fierce and fragile: the unwavering love of parents who refuse to let their children surrender to despair.

Ahmad’s mother calls him “my hero” and tells him that one day, he will walk again. She speaks of prosthetic limbs and restored dreams, feeding hope even where there is deep exhaustion. “Sometimes her words give me strength,” Ahmad says. “Other times, I feel helpless. But they never leave me. They always try to lift me up.”

Sight lost

In another part of Gaza, Mohammad Emad Ghanem, 11, performs the same heartbreaking ritual every morning. After waking up, he covers his left eye with his hand and tries desperately to see through his right. He lost that eye in an explosion several months ago.

“He still tests himself every day, hoping his sight might come back,” his father, Emad Ghanem, told The National. “He’s just a child, and yet he understands everything. He knows what it means to be different, to feel alone.”

Before the war, Mohammad’s life was filled with laughter, games and school. Now, his parents spend hours each day reminding him that his injury does not define him, that he is no less capable or worthy than any other child.

“We keep telling him that one day he’ll travel, get treatment, and regain his sight,” Emad says. “We’re planting in him the belief that no injury will stop him from achieving his dreams.”

Mohammad Emad Ghanem lost his right eye in an explosion in Gaza. Handout
Mohammad Emad Ghanem lost his right eye in an explosion in Gaza. Handout

Mohammad Khaled Hijazi, eight, was also playing near his destroyed home in Jabalia refugee camp when an unexploded ordnance detonated, sending shrapnel into his right eye. His father, Khaled, remembers the moment vividly, not so much the explosion itself but what came afterwards: the silence, the questions, and the quiet ache of a son asking things no parent can easily answer.

“Dad, when will I see with both eyes again?”

“Will I be like my cousins and my friends again?”

“Every time he asks, my heart breaks,” Khaled said. “But I always answer: ‘One day, you will.’”

Despite their own trauma and daily hardship, Khaled and his wife have committed themselves to nurturing their son’s confidence and self-worth. They refuse to let him be swallowed by self-pity or shame.

“Just a few days ago, he asked me: ‘What’s the farthest thing you can see on the street?’” Khaled recalls. “I pointed to a red car. He said: ‘I can see it too!’ And he smiled. That moment, it shook me. It reminded me how fragile and brave he is.”

In a place where food is scarce, water is limited, and electricity is unreliable, emotional survival can be harder than physical endurance. Parents in Gaza are not just providers, they are emotional anchors, counsellors and protectors against a world their children can no longer fully make sense of.

The loss of a limb, an eye, a sibling, these are wounds that reshape a child's entire future. But behind every child trying to cope is a parent working just as hard, often silently, to carry their pain and remind them that life still has meaning.

“We know we can’t bring back what’s lost,” says Emad Ghanem, “but we can be there. Every single day. We can keep telling our children that they are not broken, that they are strong, that they are loved.”

“It's not an easy task to find yourself trying to convince your child that tomorrow will be better, given what we're actually experiencing, but they are children, and they deserve hope,” Khaled Hijazi said.

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Yahya Al Ghassani's bio

Date of birth: April 18, 1998

Playing position: Winger

Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda

Key developments

All times UTC 4

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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Race 3

Produced: Salman Khan Films and Tips Films
Director: Remo D’Souza
Cast: Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Bobby Deol, Daisy Shah, Saqib Salem
Rating: 2.5 stars

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A little about CVRL

Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.

One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases. 

The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery. 

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE

Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.

10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
  • Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
  • Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
  • Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

US tops drug cost charts

The study of 13 essential drugs showed costs in the United States were about 300 per cent higher than the global average, followed by Germany at 126 per cent and 122 per cent in the UAE.

Thailand, Kenya and Malaysia were rated as nations with the lowest costs, about 90 per cent cheaper.

In the case of insulin, diabetic patients in the US paid five and a half times the global average, while in the UAE the costs are about 50 per cent higher than the median price of branded and generic drugs.

Some of the costliest drugs worldwide include Lipitor for high cholesterol. 

The study’s price index placed the US at an exorbitant 2,170 per cent higher for Lipitor than the average global price and the UAE at the eighth spot globally with costs 252 per cent higher.

High blood pressure medication Zestril was also more than 2,680 per cent higher in the US and the UAE price was 187 per cent higher than the global price.

'The worst thing you can eat'

Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines: 

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

MEFCC information

Tickets range from Dh110 for an advance single-day pass to Dh300 for a weekend pass at the door. VIP tickets have sold out. Visit www.mefcc.com to purchase tickets in advance.

The biog:

Languages: Arabic, Farsi, Hindi, basic Russian 

Favourite food: Pizza 

Best food on the road: rice

Favourite colour: silver 

Favourite bike: Gold Wing, Honda

Favourite biking destination: Canada 

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

Results

Ashraf Ghani 50.64 per cent

Abdullah Abdullah 39.52 per cent

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar 3.85 per cent

Rahmatullah Nabil 1.8 per cent

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Updated: July 23, 2025, 1:57 PM