The four children managed to endure unimaginable horrors in the Gaza Strip.
On Sunday morning, after enduring a challenging journey out of the conflict zone, they finally arrived at U.S. hospitals to receive the critical medical care they desperately needed. Their flight from Cairo landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, where they were warmly welcomed by a crowd of approximately 50 people. These kind-hearted individuals were holding plush toys, flowers, and colorful balloons, creating a joyous atmosphere.
In the midst of the crowd, there was a six-year-old boy named Fadi Alzant. With his pale skin and strawberry blond hair, he appeared frail and dazed as the commotion unfolded around his wheelchair. One of the airport employees became visibly frustrated, raising their voice and urging people to scatter and stop taking pictures.
Fadi, a young boy weighing around 25 pounds, is currently battling severe malnourishment due to the devastating effects of famine. The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, has been instrumental in organizing the children’s journeys and providing them with much-needed assistance.
The little boy will receive treatment at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in Queens. With gentle care, paramedics carefully lifted the wide-eyed child out of his wheelchair and gently placed him onto a gurney that seemed even larger in comparison. They then transported him to the hospital in an ambulance, ensuring his well-being throughout the journey.
A woman in the crowd, wiping away her tears, expressed her love, saying, “We love you!”
“Hey guys, let’s not overwhelm them,” someone else suggested. “Did they manage to get some water?”
The Relief Fund, a nonprofit organization that relies on volunteers, is dedicated to offering free medical care to children who are injured or sick. According to the organization, the other children will be brought to hospitals in Ohio, Texas, and South Carolina to receive the necessary treatment.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 34,000 people have lost their lives in Gaza since the war in the Gaza Strip started with the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals.
Tareq Hailat, an individual involved in supervising the travel initiatives for the charity organization, mentioned that the selection of children was based on recommendations from hospitals in Gaza or through social media posts highlighting children in need. As an example, the group came across Fadi after his mother shared a viral video seeking assistance. So far, the team has successfully evacuated over 100 children to Egypt, with 60 of them subsequently being relocated to other countries. Among them, seven, including the four who recently arrived, have been brought to the United States.
Lafi Melo, 28, from the Bronx, emphasized the significance of demonstrating genuine care and support for every individual in Palestine. “We want to make it clear that we truly see them,” Melo stated. Melo was present at the airport on Sunday to express solidarity with the children and their families.
Melo, a volunteer for the Gaza Sunbirds, a paracycling team dedicated to raising funds for aid to Gaza, is of Palestinian and Latino heritage. They identify with the pronouns they and them. Melo acknowledges the immense challenges the people of Gaza have faced and believes that extending a warm welcome is the least they can do to support them.
According to the relief fund, Adam Abu Ajwa, an 11-year-old boy from Gaza, was among the children affected by the recent conflict. Tragically, his shelter was bombed on January 16th by a grenade and a rocket, resulting in the loss of his mother and brother. The rocket caused Adam to be thrown into the air, causing head injuries and serious harm to his lower body. His sister, Zaina Abu Ajwa, 26, also sustained severe injuries in the attack. Together, they traveled to New York and then boarded a flight to South Carolina.
As they waited for their connecting flight, she expressed her indescribable anguish, saying, “Every second was simply horrifying.” Her sole focus now is to bring Adam here and ensure he receives the necessary medical treatment. With hope in her heart, she added, “God willing, we will return.”
Rakan Aldardasawi, a 9-year-old boy, was injured in a devastating Israeli airstrike that tragically claimed the lives of his three beloved sisters. Thanks to the heroic efforts of aid workers, Rakan was rescued from the rubble where he had been trapped for several long and harrowing hours. Currently, he is being transported to a hospital in Galveston, Texas, where he will receive the urgent medical attention he desperately needs.
He was in high spirits on Sunday, flashing a wide grin as he answered questions in Arabic and accepted gifts from numerous strangers capturing the moment on their smartphones. Seated in his wheelchair, he playfully toyed with the string on a heart-shaped balloon featuring a cute teddy bear drawing and the words “I love you.”
Despite sustaining significant injuries, Saja was seen playfully frolicking through the airport on Sunday. Nearby, volunteer workers crouched down and held balloons for her to bat at while she spun around in circles.
“These are their very first memories here,” Melo explained. “In the story of their life, this is the moment where we have the power to shape it. I hope we can create something truly beautiful.”