Born amid the escalating Israel-Hamas war, 10-month-old Abdel-Rahman Abuel-Jedian showed early signs of development, quickly learning to crawl. But his progress was abruptly halted when his left leg suddenly became paralyzed. He is now the first confirmed case of polio in Gaza in 25 years, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Abdel-Rahman was once an active baby, his mother, Nevine Abuel-Jedian, tearfully recounted. But his mobility and energy vanished, leaving him unable to crawl, stand, or even sit. Health care workers in Gaza had been warning of a potential polio outbreak as the humanitarian crisis worsened due to Israel’s ongoing offensive. Abdel-Rahman’s diagnosis confirms their fears.
Before the conflict, most children in Gaza were vaccinated against polio, according to the WHO. However, Abdel-Rahman missed his vaccination because he was born shortly before October 7, the day Hamas militants attacked Israel, prompting Israel’s retaliatory strikes on Gaza. The attacks led to widespread displacement and brought healthcare services, including routine vaccinations, to a standstill.
The WHO warns that for every visible case of polio-induced paralysis, there are likely hundreds more who have contracted the virus without showing symptoms. While many who contract polio recover within a week, the disease can cause irreversible paralysis, and if it affects the muscles used for breathing, it can be fatal.
Now living in a crowded tent camp in Deir al-Balah, the Abuel-Jedian family faces unsanitary conditions, with garbage and dirty wastewater contributing to the spread of diseases like polio. The United Nations has announced plans to launch a vaccination campaign to prevent further outbreaks and protect other families from the ordeal faced by the Abuel-Jedian family.
The family of 10, originally from Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, has been displaced multiple times before settling in their current tent. Abdel-Rahman’s mother laments the loss of access to vaccines due to their continued displacement and the dire health conditions in the camp, where there is a lack of medicine and other essential resources.
The WHO has reported at least two other cases of children with paralysis in Gaza, with stool samples sent to a lab in Jordan for analysis. UNICEF spokesperson Ammar Ammar emphasized that a cease-fire is crucial to vaccinate Gaza’s children under 10. Health agencies are pushing for a pause in fighting, as ongoing Israeli military operations make it challenging and dangerous to reach affected children.
The United Nations aims to vaccinate at least 95% of the more than 640,000 children in Gaza, with the campaign set to begin on Saturday. UNICEF has already delivered 1.2 million vaccine doses, with another 400,000 en route. Israel’s military body responsible for civilian affairs, COGAT, facilitated the delivery of over 25,000 vials of vaccine through the Kerem Shalom crossing on Sunday.
“If this vaccination effort is not carried out, the consequences could be disastrous, not only for the children in Gaza but also for neighboring countries and the region,” Ammar warned.
In their tent, Nevine Abuel-Jedian watches her youngest child, now immobile in a makeshift bassinet, while her seven other children gather around. “I hope he will return to being like his siblings, able to sit and move,” she said.
