A young girl in Gaza is suffering because her custom medical mask has become too small for her growing face, according to her family. Rital Halawa sustained severe burns in northern Gaza when her mother said a quadcopter dropped a bomb on the area, causing a fire that engulfed the child.
The family turned to Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, which produces bespoke compressive face masks using 3D scanning and printing technology. Rital’s mother, Samar Halawa, said the tight mask is now choking her daughter’s neck and causing her pain.
Mohammed Al-Qatrawi, physiotherapy supervisor at the MSF France clinic in Gaza, explained that patients must wear the specialised masks for about 18 hours daily to prevent severe complications after wounds heal. The free service uses clear plastic and fabric versions, with the team delivering 236 masks since demand surged during the conflict.
However, Al-Qatrawi stated that the operation is near a complete halt due to supply shortages. Israeli authorities have blocked essential medical inputs, including the clear plastic and 3D printer filament, under the classification of dual-use goods, according to the MSF supervisor.
The organisation currently lacks the raw materials required to maintain the service, leaving a growing list of patients waiting for treatment. MSF has issued calls for the necessary materials to be permitted entry into the territory.
The World Health Organization has frequently voiced concern regarding Israeli restrictions on items labeled as dual use. In October, Dr Reinhilde Van de Weerdt, the WHO representative in the Palestinian territories, urged authorities to ease pressure on medical supplies, stating that essential goods should not be restricted under dual-use policies.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that approved dual-use items are restricted to 15 truckloads per week at the Kerem Shalom crossing. Meanwhile, COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body overseeing aid, stated that certain requested goods contain materials that could be repurposed by Hamas, adding that officials work with aid groups to find alternatives when items are flagged.
The medical shortages persist alongside ongoing violence. Rescue services reported that Israeli strikes and gunfire killed five people across Gaza, including a woman and a 12-year-old boy. The Israeli military stated it targeted fighters in Al-Zawayda and west of Gaza City while looking into reports of casualties in Khan Yunis, as both sides accuse each other of violating the ceasefire.
Samar Halawa expressed frustration over the lack of proper care for her daughter amid the broader humanitarian crisis. She urged the international community to remember the children of Gaza, stating they have been deprived of basic rights including healthcare and education.
