Atlanta, GA
12-year-old girl injured in Gaza bombing receives life-saving surgery in Atlanta
Gaza bombing survivor healing after surgery
Young Palestinian girl has received life changing surgery in Atlanta thanks to a nonprofit. Bombing of the refugee camp in Gaza where she had evacuated to with her family gravely injured her.
ATLANTA – A 12-year-old girl from Gaza, grievously injured in a bombing, is recovering well after receiving life-changing surgery in Atlanta, thanks to a nonprofit.
Her recovery is going so well that she can now even dance again.
Twelve-year-old Habiba Abu Khadeir compares how long her hair used to be before her surgery. She was injured in a bombing at a Gaza Strip refugee camp. She says she really loved her long hair and misses it. (FOX 5)
Gaza bombing injures young girl
Timeline:
According to the nonprofit Heal Palestine, on Jan. 23, 2024, the refugee camp in Khan Younis where 12-year-old Habiba Abu Khadeir was staying with her family was bombed. She lost her mom and her little sister in the attack,” said Dr. Abeer Abouyabis, who translated for Habiba and her aunt Hiyam Abu Khadeir.
Dr. Abouyabis is also hosting Habiba and her aunt while they’re in the U.S. She explained how Habiba was gravely injured in the attack. “She actually had her skull blown out, and her internal organs were exposed,” Dr. Abouyabis explained.
A Gaza hospital was able to stitch Habiba up, but she was in a coma for three weeks. When she woke up, her aunt was able to evacuate her to Egypt.
It wasn’t until Dec. 14, 2024, that Heal Palestine was able to get Habiba to Atlanta for treatment.
On Jan. 7, Habiba was able to get the surgery she needed. She’ll get x-rays in two weeks, where they will determine if she’s ready to travel again.
This image shows 12-year-old Habiba Abu Khadeir right after her surgery in Atlanta. She was injured in a bombing at a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. (Supplied)
Atlanta helps heal little girl
Local perspective:
Because of the extent of the injuries to her skull, Habiba couldn’t get the surgery she needed in the Middle East. “It was a cranioplasty; she had lost all the bone on the right side of her head. They had to build that from titanium and other materials so that they could close the area to protect the brain,” Dr. Abouyabis said.
Through what Hiyam describes as a miracle, she was able to meet someone from Heal Palestine in Egypt, who then arranged for Habiba to come to Atlanta.
On Jan. 7, Habiba got the cranioplasty. Heal Palestine said it can’t disclose the name of the hospital or doctor who treated Habiba due to concerns that some may want to target them. Hiyam says she was very grateful for the way the doctor treated Habiba. “She’s saying that they were very touched by the doctor who did the surgery. Habiba was apparently giving him a little bit of a hard time, but he made her a personal promise that he was going to do the surgery like she was his daughter. They really felt like he treated her like a daughter, not just like a patient,” Dr. Abouyabis said.
The surgery was a success, and although Habiba is disappointed she had to shave her head for the surgery, she’s already feeling well enough to dance and sing.
Twelve-year-old Habiba Abu Khadeir shows a traditional Palestinian dance, something she was not able to do since before she was injured in a bombing in the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian girl hopes to rebuild home
What’s next:
If the x-rays show that she is recovering well and cleared for travel, Habiba plans to return to Egypt with her aunt. Habiba’s father and siblings are still in a tent in a Gaza refugee camp. She says her hope is that they can one day rebuild their home and live there together, so they never have to stay in a tent again.
The Source: The nonprofit Heal Palestine provided details and facilitated interviews for this article. FOX 5’s Eric Mock spoke with 12-year-old Habiba Abu Khadeir, her aunt, and Dr. Abeer Abouyabis.
Travel trends nationwide suggest more people are staying close to home this year due to higher oil and gas prices. Some 71 percent of Americans plan road trips for summer vacations, according to Hilton’s 2026 Trends Report.
Another study, by Bank of America, found consumers are responding to higher gas prices by taking fewer trips, reducing travel budgets, cutting back on accommodations, or choosing destinations closer to home.
Catcher Jair Camargo collected his first big league hit in the top of the ninth tonight. He was added for the double-header today.
This was his first MLB appearance since 2024 with the Twins. He was hitless in seven plate appearances for Minnesota.
He struck out in his first at bat with Atlanta before doubling for his first base knock.
Congratulations.
Communities across metro Atlanta are hosting Juneteenth festivals, performances, markets and family-friendly events over the next several days. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. The holiday commemorates the day in 1865 when Texas learned that slavery had ended and the last of the enslaved people were to be freed.
Historian Henry Louis Gates has estimated there were about 250,000 freed in the state of Texas.
Below are some of the events taking place around metro Atlanta.
Sandy Springs
The city’s annual Juneteenth celebration will be held from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday at City Springs. The event will feature live performances, art exhibits, artisan vendors, food trucks and more.
Roswell
Roswell will host an artisan market honoring Juneteenth at 1 p.m. Friday in the lobby of the Roswell Cultural Arts Center.
According to a city statement, “This is your opportunity to meet the creators behind the work, hear their stories firsthand, and take a piece of the experience home. Artists will have additional prints and affordable original pieces available for purchase, making this a wonderful chance to invest in and celebrate the work of African American artists in our community.”
Gwinnett
Several Juneteenth events are planned throughout Gwinnett County.
In Norcross, cellist Okorie “OkCello” Johnson and the Wonders of Worship Youth Choir from Hopewell Baptist Church will perform at the Cultural Arts and Community Center at 11 a.m. Friday.
In Lilburn, the GAPS Society, representing Georgia Autism Parental Support, will host food, games and activities for all ages from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at J.B. Williams Park.
The United Ebony Society will celebrate Juneteenth on Saturday at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds with a festival featuring music, games and food from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The Black Women’s Association of Sugar Hill will host its seventh annual Juneteenth event with the Miss Juneteenth pageant, music, food, games, and a scholarship award. The festivities will take place from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 5039 W. Broad Street.
RELATED POSTS
-
Oregon2 minutes agoOregon man sentenced to 77 months in prison after pleading guilty to attempted kidnapping
-
Pennsylvania4 minutes agoPennsylvania lawmakers push for data center regulations as development accelerates
-
Rhode Island10 minutes agoRhode Island Pride marks 50th year as early marcher recalls Providence’s first parade
-
South-Carolina17 minutes agoSouth Carolina family raises awareness of rare Batten disease
-
South Dakota20 minutes agoSouth Dakota man whose life sentence was commuted by Noem now implicated in his niece’s death
-
Tennessee32 minutes ago8 Biggest Winners, 4 Losers from Tennessee Titans’ Minicamp
-
Texas34 minutes agoSweep in the heart of Texas: Twins beat Rangers again
-
Utah39 minutes agoRock Canyon fire doubles in size overnight near Arizona-Utah border
