Gaza: Mohammed Hajila… Childhood stolen by war, hope lost amid burns, silence

Little Mohammed Hajila lost his voice after suffering severe burns during the recent bombing of the Gaza Strip, leaving behind the memories of his innocent childhood and his first words: “Mama” and “Baba.”

The trauma not only burned his body but also wounded his young soul, leaving him in a silence that weighs heavily on his parents’ hearts and exacerbates their daily suffering.

His father, Ramez, speaking with a voice heavy with loss to the Palestine Online website on Monday, said: “I’m not asking for the impossible. I want a medical referral for my son, real treatment that will give him a chance at a normal life. Mohammed isn’t just a case… he’s a child, and he has the right to grow up without being haunted by the scars of burns and trauma.”

After three critical months of siege and suffering, Mohammed faces significant physical and psychological challenges amidst a lack of medical resources, the ongoing pressure of war, and the absence of adequate support for affected children.

But reality proved harsher than the prescription. Mohammed now lives in a small, cramped room, an environment ill-suited to a child with severe burns. He can only tolerate the mask for three hours at a time. He cries uncontrollably, struggles to breathe, and can even suffocate. His parents are trying to manage the situation with what little they have: a face mask, a waist trainer, and daily efforts to prevent the scar tissue from forming and spreading. “We do what we can, but we’re afraid it won’t be enough,” says Ramez.

Time is not on Mohammed’s side. He has been wearing the mask for three months and must continue for a full six months. After that, doctors warn, the scars may become permanent, rendering the mask ineffective.

Doctors explained that the child’s psychological state requires urgent attention at mental health centers, as local hospitals have been unable to provide the intensive psychological treatment Mohammed needs to recover from the trauma.

Mental health experts point out that such cases require integrated treatment programs that combine medical and psychological care, to ensure that affected children do not become continuous victims of traumatic memories and a war that left them no opportunity to play or grow normally.