I Was Buried with My Family’s Bodies": A Palestinian Girl’s Miracle Rescue from Gaza Rubble After Airstrike

 

In the shattered remains of what was once a quiet residential neighborhood in northern Gaza, a miraculous moment of hope unfolded amid relentless destruction. A 10-year-old Palestinian girl, Amal Mahmoud, was pulled alive from beneath the rubble after more than 48 hours, following a devastating Israeli airstrike that leveled her family’s home.

The attack occurred in the early hours of a cold December morning. Amal’s home in Beit Hanoun was reduced to a pile of concrete and twisted metal in a matter of seconds. Her parents, two younger brothers, and grandmother were killed instantly. Amal, buried under layers of debris, was presumed dead along with them.

For two days, rescue efforts were hampered by ongoing bombardments, lack of fuel, and damaged infrastructure. Civil defense teams, operating with limited equipment and exhausted from days without rest, struggled to reach the site. Amid the chaos, neighbors and volunteers used their bare hands to dig through the wreckage, refusing to give up hope.

On the third day, a faint cry was heard beneath the rubble. “I’m here… I can’t move,” whispered Amal through the darkness. A volunteer with a handheld radio relayed the message to emergency crews. Within hours, a small team of paramedics and local rescuers arrived with a hydraulic jack and basic tools.

What followed was a tense, painstaking operation. Rescuers worked in shifts, removing chunks of concrete while speaking softly to Amal, reassuring her that help had arrived. “Don’t sleep, Amal,” they urged. “Stay with us. We’re almost there.”

After nearly five hours of digging, they finally reached her. Amal was found lying beneath a collapsed wall, protected by a wooden wardrobe that had shielded her from the full impact of the collapse. She was dehydrated, suffering from bruises and a fractured arm, but alive.

“I thought I was going to die,” Amal whispered as she was lifted onto a stretcher. “I prayed the whole time. I told God I wasn’t ready to leave my brother behind.”

She was rushed to Al-Awda Hospital, where doctors stabilized her condition. Despite shortages of medicine and electricity, medical staff treated her with compassion and urgency. “Her survival is nothing short of a miracle,” said Dr. Sami Abu Sada, who treated her. “She was trapped in an air pocket, and her will to live carried her through.”

Amal’s story has become a symbol of resilience in a war-torn land. In a region where thousands of children have lost their lives, her survival offers a rare glimmer of hope. Yet, it also underscores the unbearable cost of conflict on Palestinian civilians.

As of now, Amal remains in the hospital, recovering physically but mourning the loss of her entire family. Social workers and volunteers are by her side, promising to support her as she faces an uncertain future.

In her weak voice, Amal made one request: “Tell the world what happened to us. Tell them we are not numbers. We are people.”