The Daily Ordeals of Disabled Palestinians: A Desperate Battle for Existence in Gaza

Ever since Israel imposed a complete blockade on Gaza, Hazem Saeed Al-Naizi, the director of a orphanage in Gaza City, has been living in fear. He constantly worries about the limited availability of food, water, and other essential supplies for the dozens of children and young individuals under his care, many of whom have disabilities.

On October 27th, when a strike targeted a mosque near the Mabarat Al-Rahma orphanage, causing shattered windows, debris scattered throughout the building, a fire to break out, and smoke to fill the air, Al-Naizi faced an agonizing decision - whether or not to evacuate the children and young individuals.

On November 2, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) closed in on Gaza City, Al-Naizi explained that he had no alternative but to evacuate the group of 40 individuals from the orphanage, including eight infants. They were loaded onto three large buses, along with non-perishable food and batteries. It took approximately two hours to carry out the evacuation, as many of the children needed to be carried. However, they were only able to cover a distance of about 1.2 miles before they had to establish a temporary shelter.

For Palestinians with disabilities, the situation becomes even more dire as they face a virtual death sentence. According to disability advocates and aid organizations, those who are deaf or blind are at a greater disadvantage as they may not be aware of evacuation orders or be able to perceive the strikes. Additionally, individuals with intellectual disabilities may struggle to communicate their whereabouts to their loved ones or rescue workers. Furthermore, individuals with physical disabilities who rely on wheelchairs and other assistive devices are unable to navigate through the rubble or walk long distances towards safety.

Carers like Al-Naizi are confronted with an impossible dilemma - to stay where they are and face the risk of being killed or to escape to an uncertain destination with no guarantee of safety. "Where will I leave these children, on the street?" Al-Naizi questioned. "We have no hope, except for the fervent wish that this war will come to an end soon."

Al-Naizi with some of the children from the orphanage outside their new shelter, on November 9.

Hazem Saeed Al-Naizi

Al-Naizi stands with Hamza, age 3, and Muhammad, age 12, who has autism and is visually impaired in one eye, on November 9 at the new shelter.

Israel initiated its military operation with the objective of eliminating Hamas and rescuing over 240 captives from the violent attack carried out by the militant group on October 7. Israeli authorities claim that this assault resulted in the death of approximately 1,200 individuals. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, citing medical sources in the Hamas-controlled region, Israel's continuous aerial bombardment and ground assault have so far claimed the lives of at least 11,470 people, including 4,707 children.

More than two-thirds of Gaza's population, which amounts to 2.2 million people, have been forced to leave their homes due to the ongoing war. These individuals are currently residing in temporary shelters that are overcrowded and facing a shortage of essential supplies such as food, water, medicine, and sanitation facilities. Additionally, it is alarming to note that over 15% of the internally displaced individuals are disabled, as reported by the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Amidst this crisis, a large number of Palestinians, including women, children, and the elderly, are migrating southwards following the evacuation routes set by the IDF on a daily basis.

CNN has previously covered incidents where Israeli strikes resulted in the death of Palestinian civilians who had obeyed evacuation orders, highlighting the alarming fact that "nowhere in Gaza is safe," as acknowledged by Volker Türk, the United Nations rights chief. Türk and human rights organizations argue that Israel's attacks on civilians, along with their mandatory evacuation, constitute war crimes. The IDF asserts that it is taking steps to reduce civilian casualties and accuses Hamas of using civilian infrastructure for their operations. CNN is unable to independently verify this claim.

Fleeing strikes, unable to see or hear them

The challenge of evacuation weighs heavily on the approximately 48,000 Gaza residents with disabilities, of which over 20% are children as per the 2019 report by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.

While working on her laptop, Heba Abu Jazar Sama noticed her house in Gaza trembling. Despite being deaf, she could sense the tremors and vibrations. Sama, 29, described the incident, saying that she had briefly closed her eyes due to exhaustion when suddenly her house was bombed. This account was shared with CNN by Walid Mahmoud Nazzal, the coordinator of the Palestinian Union of the Deaf situated in Ramallah.

Sama recounted how her parents were in a state of panic, believing she and her sister had met a tragic fate. "My father and mother started screaming, thinking that I had been killed," Sama added. However, as the dust settled and they discovered both her and her deaf sister unharmed, immense relief washed over them. The harrowing experience led to tears of gratitude and overwhelming emotions. Sama further shared that if she hadn't briefly shifted her position, the stones would have mercilessly landed on her head.

, a 29-year-old woman, shares her heartbreaking story of her demolished home through sign language. The video, captured by Walid Mahmoud Nazzal, the coordinator of the Palestinian Union of the Deaf, was sent to CNN on November 3rd.

Deaf individuals must rely on their remaining senses to escape the ongoing attacks by the IDF, which have targeted hospitals, ambulances, refugee camps, UN schools, and temporary shelters. According to Emina Ćerimović, a senior researcher on disability rights at Human Rights Watch (HRW), in some instances, civilians are given only three to five minutes of notice before an area is targeted by the IDF.

In early October, CNN reported that the IDF seemed to have abandoned its "roof knocking" tactic, as multiple residents in Gaza claimed they received no prior warning before their homes were bombed. When asked about this change, an IDF spokesperson indicated that it would no longer be the standard practice. The absence of such warnings may be contributing to the significant number of civilian casualties in Gaza.

As the IDF escalates its attack on Gaza City and the northern region, civilians have been consistently urged to relocate south of Wadi Gaza, a central waterway. Following the destruction of Samas' residence, she and her family sought refuge in a shelter.

In the shelter, we were devoid of any hope, lacking water, electricity, internet, and even blankets to shield us from the piercing cold during the nights. Our existence felt suffocating and we were utterly exhausted," she expressed, describing the dire circumstances in the shelter.

Contrary to their residences, the shelters are ill-suited to cater to the accessibility requirements of individuals with disabilities. CNN was informed by aid workers that civilians are compelled to live in cramped quarters without any privacy, with limited access to essential hygiene products. The absence of toilets on each floor obstructs the accessibility for individuals unable to climb stairs, leaving them with no choice but to crawl on the floor to reach the bathroom queue.

Up to 70 individuals could find refuge in a single room, with certain individuals compelled to occupy the stairs, revealed Jamal Al Rozzi, the executive director of the National Society for Rehabilitation, who used to reside in Gaza City and relocated southward out of concern for his children's well-being. According to him, children with disabilities who may struggle with chewing might be left hungry due to an inadequate number of staff members available to blend their food.

Ayas, age 8, an orphan who is blind and suffers from "total disability." In the absence of electrical equipment to blend his food, he is fed grated cheese.

Hazem Saeed Al-Naizi

People with incontinence lack sufficient access to diapers or toilets, preventing them from cleaning themselves and leading to an increased risk of urinary tract infections, according to Reham Shaheen, a rehabilitation specialist at the international NGO, Humanity & Inclusion. Additionally, the absence of specialized mattresses for quadriplegic Palestinians limits their mobility, resulting in the development of bedsores.

Shaheen expressed concern about the heightened vulnerability of women with intellectual disabilities to sexual violence during crisis situations. This is exacerbated by the fact that men and women are often crowded together in shared spaces, including bathrooms. The communication barriers further hinder survivors from reporting incidents of sexual assault.

Lack of accessibility, connectivity is compounded at temporary shelters

Survival poses an even greater challenge for disabled Gazans who have managed to reach temporary shelters in the south, as they lack access to essential services they depend on daily, which are either non-existent or in short supply, unlike the situation for able-bodied individuals.

Image of a shelter in southern Gaza, taken and sent by Jamal Al Rozzi, on November 14.

People have reported waiting in lines for hours in order to obtain food and water, with the United Nations highlighting the risk of Israeli airstrikes to civilians. Additionally, individuals who are hearing or visually impaired require assistance when collecting supplies, thereby making it more challenging for them to obtain the necessary items.

Al-Naizi, the deputy executive director of the Palestinian orphanage, informed CNN that the market in close proximity to their temporary shelter is experiencing a severe shortage of food supplies, resulting in significantly higher prices. In communications sent to CNN on November 7th, he expressed that the orphanage possesses only enough provisions to sustain them for a week, including baby formula, rice, and canned food.

In terms of drinking water, we do not have access to treated water. Instead, we directly consume water from the well.

More than 29,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been injured by Israeli strikes, as reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah. This has resulted in doctors prioritizing patients with life-threatening injuries. However, the healthcare requirements of particularly vulnerable groups, such as women and disabled individuals, can be neglected.

The shortage of drugs is causing people to face a lack of medication that is often unavailable in nearby pharmacies. This includes Baclofen, which is a muscle relaxant used by individuals with conditions such as cerebral palsy, meningitis, and motor neurone disease, as well as Novatrim, an antibiotic treatment. Ćerimovic from HRW also informed that aid organizations distributing hygiene kits, including children's pajamas and underwear, along with menstrual products for women, are experiencing low supplies due to the blockade.

During the initial stages of the escalation, Al Rozzi and his team of volunteers distributed essential medical supplies, bedding, and mobility aids to displaced individuals with disabilities. However, the situation has worsened to the point where having a wheelchair is now considered a "luxury."

With limited access to electricity and a shortage of batteries, individuals with disabilities are unable to operate their wheelchairs, elevators, nebulizers (a device that converts liquid medication into mist), or hearing aids. Since October 7, Gaza has experienced at least three periods of complete communication blackout, significantly hindering civilians' ability to access information, contact their displaced family members, and document the tragic consequences of the Israeli bombardment.

Deaf individuals heavily depend on internet connectivity for making video calls using sign language and receiving critical information, making power outages a major obstacle to communication, according to human rights workers. The lack of access to the internet leaves those with hearing disabilities feeling disconnected from the rest of the world, highlighting their isolation, stated Fidaa Fouad Khamis Omar, a psychologist at the National Society for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled, located in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.

Fear of the unknown dominates everyone

Adham, the 27-year-old son of Al Rozzi, suffers from cerebral palsy. Whenever he is exposed to the sound of shelling, he instinctively covers his ears and trembles. His ability to breathe and move is severely hindered, leaving Al Rozzi to witness his son's state of becoming rigid like a stone.

Gazan civilians have been experiencing trauma for years due to living under siege. International bodies like Amnesty International have strongly condemned Israel for violating international law by imposing severe restrictions. Despite their best efforts, caregivers and aid workers are finding it challenging to offer mental health assistance to disabled civilians who are terrified by the continuous bombardment. In addition to their own psychological trauma, they also fear that they cannot ensure the safety of their loved ones.

Al-Naizi stands with Ruaa, age 8, who has a motor disability and cerebral palsy, on November 9.

Hazem Saeed Al-Naizi

As Israeli troops approach Gaza City, Al-Naizi is concerned about the potential displacement of the orphanage once again. He believes that attempting to leave a second time would be even riskier than the initial escape. The journey to southern Gaza, which is necessary to ensure the safety of the children, can only be made on foot due to the scarcity of fuel for buses.

CNNs Kareem El Damanhoury, Abeer Salman, Akanksha Sharma, Mostafa Salem, Zeena Saifi and Eyad Kourdi contributed reporting.