On April 8, 2024, during the holy month of Ramadan while I was fasting, my life changed forever.
Before I was injured, I was a university student studying Media, Communication, and Advertising at the University of Palestine in Gaza. I was passionate about journalism and worked as a freelancer online, hoping to build a career that would allow me to tell stories and support myself.
I never imagined that I would one day become the subject of a story myself.
The Day Everything Changed
On April 8, 2024, while walking near my home during Ramadan, a small drone appeared overhead and opened fire.
I hid behind piles of sand, trying to protect myself. Moments later, another drone hovered directly above me. I feared it might fire a missile. In those terrifying seconds, I felt that death was very close and that I might never see my family again.
I ran in a zigzag pattern in an attempt to escape, but I was hit. One bullet struck my left thigh and another injured my little finger. The damage to my leg was devastating, shattering the bone and leaving me unable to stand.
A Long Journey Through Hospitals
My treatment began at Al-Aqsa Hospital, where I spent 15 days undergoing repeated surgeries under general anesthesia.
I was later transferred to the Jordanian Field Hospital and then to the Indonesian Hospital due to limited medical resources and the high number of casualties.
Although the wound initially seemed to improve, doctors later discovered severe bone damage requiring further intervention.
As the situation worsened, I was transferred again to the American Hospital west of Khan Younis. There, surgeons explained that the wound needed to be reopened and infected bone removed, leading to more surgeries and long recovery periods.
The repeated operations and anesthesia took a heavy physical and psychological toll. My life became a cycle of pain, operating rooms, and uncertainty.
Living With Permanent Consequences
Eventually, doctors had to remove part of the damaged bone, leaving my left leg about six centimeters shorter.
Today, I use a raised shoe to help me walk, but I still need further treatment and reconstructive surgery outside Gaza to regain proper mobility.
Losing More Than My Health
I lost my laptop, my phone, and my freelance work. I lost my independence, my ability to move freely, and many parts of my normal life.
Today, I live in a tent, trying to rebuild my life under extremely difficult conditions.
Why I Am Sharing This
I am not asking for pity.
I am sharing this because behind every headline about Gaza are real human lives, interrupted dreams, and people trying to survive unimaginable circumstances.
My story is only one of many.
Please do not forget Gaza and its people. Remember those who are injured, displaced, and still waiting for treatment and hope.
I still believe in recovery, in healing, and in the possibility of rebuilding my future.
Feras Abokmail is a media student from Gaza studying Media, Communication, and Advertising at the University of Palestine. He is currently sharing his personal experience of injury, displacement, and survival during the war.
Follow his news from a personal perspective: https://medium.com/@abokmailferas/i-was-a-student-in-gaza-until-a-drone-changed-everything-c957097cef8a
And help him out if you can! https://chuffed.org/project/171610-help-feras-receive-the-care-he-needs