"All That Remains": As Gaza Faces Child Amputee Crisis, New Film Tells Story of 13-Year-Old Leyan
Israel's genocidal war on the Palestinian territory since October of last year has killed tens of thousands of people and wounded over 100,000 more, leaving many with life-altering injuries. The United Nations said this week that Gaza now has the highest per-capita rate of child amputees in the world, with many children forced to endure surgery without anesthesia.
For more, we look at All That Remains_, a new film from Al Jazeera's _Fault Lines that follows the story of 13-year-old Leyan Abu al-Atta as she recovers from having her leg amputated due to an Israeli airstrike. "It changed the trajectory of her life forever … but it didn't even register on international media's reporting because of all the massacres that were going on," says Rhana Natour, director and producer of _All That Remains_.
While Leyan's family was able to raise awareness about her case and secure a medical evacuation out of Gaza to the United States, it did not happen soon enough, and doctors were forced to amputate her leg in order to save her life. Natour says this still represents a better outcome than what is available for most victims in Gaza. "For every Leyan that is able to leave Gaza, there are hundreds, if not thousands, who are not able to leave," she says.
The documentary
At just 13, Leyan, an amputee from Gaza, travels to the United States for medical treatment. Her journey reflects the immense challenges faced by thousands of children who have lost limbs in the war, underscoring their ongoing struggles and the urgent need for the world’s attention. Our guest, filmmaker Rhana Natour, tells Leyan’s story in All That Remains, a Fault Lines documentary, on Al Jazeera.