Injured Palestinian Teen Arrives in UK for Life-Saving Medical Treatment

LONDON: A 15-year-old Palestinian boy from Gaza has arrived in the United Kingdom to receive vital medical treatment after suffering devastating injuries during an Israeli military assault earlier this year.

Majd Alshagnobi was critically wounded in February 2024 when an Israeli tank shell exploded near him, destroying much of his face, including his jaw and teeth. He now becomes the third Palestinian child to be medically evacuated to the UK since the war in Gaza began in October 2023.

Speaking to Sky News, Majd expressed his relief and gratitude after landing at London’s Heathrow Airport with his mother and two sisters.

“Thank God I have the opportunity to receive treatment here … That’s the reason I’ve come, to get treatment,” he said. “Since I arrived, I’ve felt so much happier. We’ve been greeted in such a nice way, with gifts and things to help us.”

He and his family were warmly welcomed by well-wishers bearing flowers, banners, and presents.

Majd’s mother, Islam Alshagnobi, recounted the horrifying ordeal following her son’s injury, describing the chaotic and overwhelmed conditions in Gaza’s medical facilities.

“When Majd first got to the hospital, they thought he was dead because of the severity of his injuries,” she said. “But when he raised his arm, they realized he was still alive.”

Due to the lack of available operating rooms, doctors had to perform emergency surgery in the hospital kitchen to save his life. For months, Majd struggled to breathe and was fed through syringes and tubes inserted through his nose.

“He really suffered,” his mother added.

The Alshagnobi family’s home in Gaza has been destroyed. They now live in tents, and part of the family remains trapped in the war zone.

“We’ve lost our home, our memories, our dreams. Nothing is left in Gaza,” said Islam. “Two of my children are still there with their father. Every morning, I wake up fearing they’ve been killed. Anything can happen at any time.”

Majd’s transfer to the UK was made possible through the efforts of the charity Project Pure Hope, which has been working to evacuate children from Gaza for urgent medical care.

Omar Din, co-founder of the organization, said the UK must take greater responsibility.

“We’ve done this privately because there was no other option available,” he explained. “My team has done similar work for Ukrainian refugees—there’s no reason we can’t do the same for Gazan children.”

So far, over 5,000 children have been evacuated from Gaza for treatment abroad, most going to Egypt and Gulf nations. But only a few, like Majd, have been brought to the UK.

Last week, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to “accelerate efforts” to bring more wounded children from Gaza to Britain. Din hopes that promise turns into action.

“The more we wait, the more children die who we could be saving,” Din said. “We’re hoping that in the coming days, we’ll see concrete steps.”