AMMAN: Palestinian teenagers who lost limbs during the war in Gaza are trying to rebuild their lives at a rehabilitation centre in Jordan, where they are receiving medical care and prosthetic limbs through an initiative run by Jordan’s Restoring Hope Society.
Among them is 15-year-old Mahmoud Abou Nusair, whose dream of playing football was shattered after Israeli fire injured his right leg in central Gaza.
On October 31, 2025, Mahmoud was collecting firewood in Deir al-Balah when a bullet struck his leg. With Gaza’s healthcare system severely damaged after years of war, his injury worsened and doctors eventually had to amputate his leg below the knee.
“The doctor came to see me and told me, ‘We have to amputate your foot’,” Mahmoud told AFP.
He recalled his mother pleading with the doctor not to proceed, expressing concern about how her son would manage everyday activities and whether he would ever be able to play football, skate or visit the beach again.
Mahmoud said his initial reaction was to scream. However, after seeing other injured patients who had lost arms and legs, he began to reconsider.
“I told myself: my injury is better,” he said, adding that he eventually agreed to the amputation.
He also recalled waiting around half an hour for a horse-drawn cart to transport him to Al-Aqsa Hospital. He was later transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, where he spent two weeks.
Beyond losing his leg, Mahmoud continues to grieve the loss of his sports equipment and five footballs, which were destroyed when his home was demolished.
Mahmoud is among more than 450 Palestinian amputees receiving care and prosthetic limbs in Amman and Gaza through the Restoring Hope Society’s initiative, which aims to help injured Palestinians regain mobility and rebuild their lives.