Toddler Orphaned After Israeli Strike on Gaza City Apartment, Doctors Describe Her Burns and Silence

Two-and-a-half-year-old Mariam Garnim lost her mother in the October 14 strike, and medical staff say shortages are limiting her treatment

Saturday, October 31, 2026

A two-and-a-half-year-old girl in Gaza City, Mariam Garnim, survived an Israeli strike on the apartment where she and her mother were sleeping, but her mother was killed. Her case has drawn attention to the toll the conflict takes on children, both physical and psychological.

The strike and the rescue

According to medical personnel and reports on the incident, the strike hit the residential apartment on October 14 and started a fire that engulfed the living quarters. Rescuers pulled Mariam from the flames. Her mother died of her injuries at the scene.

Mariam suffered burns covering about 15 percent of her body, affecting her left arm, left leg, part of her face and her trunk. Doctors treating her described serious difficulties in her care, including critical shortages of pain relief and medical supplies. Pediatricians at the hospital said they felt helpless as they tried to ease her pain with limited resources.

Silence, then a first question

After she was rescued, medical staff said Mariam stayed largely unresponsive and silent for almost 24 hours. Healthcare workers described her as blank, withdrawn and deeply muted by shock.

After nearly a day, she began to speak slowly. She first asked about food and said she was in pain, and eventually she asked for her mother.

Child psychologists and caregivers stress that while burns need long dermatological treatment, the emotional damage to children who witness extreme violence can last far longer. Experts say recovery requires continuous emotional support, a safe environment and specialized mental health monitoring.

A child who has lost both parents

Mariam’s father was killed in an Israeli military strike in November 2023, before she was born. Her mother was her only surviving parent, so she has now lost both at a very young age.

Humanitarian organizations, including UNICEF, have repeatedly highlighted the toll of the conflict on children in the region. International agencies report mounting casualties, thousands of injured children and widespread destruction of infrastructure that complicates medical care and psychosocial support.

What comes next

Medical and humanitarian workers continue to address the immediate physical and emotional needs of children like Mariam, while the wider international community weighs the long-term consequences of the conflict for civilians. Cases of orphaned children underline the lasting humanitarian challenges facing families and caregivers in Gaza.