Palestinian children injured in attack (Archive)
Photo: AP
Israeli foreign service takes care of Palestinian child
Israeli Consulate in New York flies Adham Ghalia, 10, who lost his family in Gaza beach explosion, for urgent surgery in New York
Surely this act won't make up for little Adham's trauma of losing his family in an explosion on a Gaza beach - but maybe he will be able to walk again. In an international effort, the Israeli Consulate in New York and the Foreign Ministry organized a complicated operation in which 10-year-old Adham was flown to a hospital in New Jersey where doctors will try to save his legs.
Adham was severely injured in June by a munitions explosion on a beach in Gaza. In the incident, Adham's father, step-mother, and five brothers and sisters were killed. Another sister was wounded.
Adham was transferred to an Israeli hospital for medical treatment where he was put on life support. In the meantime, his condition improved, but he still suffered from paralysis in his legs. US Congressman Rush Holt recently contacted the Consul General of Israel in New York Arye Mekel asking for Israel's help in transporting Adham to a New Jersey hospital for surgery.
Mekel stepped up and got the relevant Israeli figures involved. Israel contacted the American-Palestinian organization Palestine Children's Relief Fund, which financed the child's flight, operation, and rehabilitation.
The Rafah Crossing was opened for half a day. In coordination with the IDF, the child was transferred to Egypt, where he was hospitalized. In the meantime, the Egyptians obtained a US visa for the child. Monday, Adham was flown to New York.
Adham was hospitalized in a hospital in New Jersey's Monmouth County. He is slated to go under the knife within the next few days to restructure nerves in his legs so that he will hopefully be able to walk again.
General Consul Mekel plans on visiting the Palestinian child in the coming days at the hospital to wish him a speedy recovery.
Mekel said Tuesday to Yedioth Ahronoth: "I am satisfied that all the bodies in Israel got on board this humanitarian mission to bring this child to an operation in the United States. Our activity gained great esteem among the Americans and Palestinians who escorted the child."
