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Gaza boy, 4, gets a new prosthetic arm in the U.S.

A severely wounded 4-year-old boy from Gaza has come to the U.S. for medical care and a prosthetic arm after an Israeli airstrike killed his family. Omar Abu Kuwaik's surviving relatives and a chain of strangers have made courageous, loving sacrifices to help the traumatized child get aid.

By Peter K. Afriyie / AP and courtesy of Maha Abu Kuwaik via AP

March 4, 2024

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VIDEO BY AP
A severely wounded 4-year-old boy from Gaza has come to the U.S. for medical care and a prosthetic arm after an Israeli airstrike killed his family. Omar Abu Kuwaik's surviving relatives and a chain of strangers have made courageous, loving sacrifices to help the traumatized child get aid.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Omar Abu Kuwaik poses for a photo at the Global Medical Relief Fund residence, Wednesday, Jan. 17, in the Staten Island borough of New York. On Dec. 6, 2023 two Israeli airstrikes slammed into Omar's grandparents' home in the Nuseirat refugee camp, in central Gaza. The explosion peeled the skin from his face, exposing raw pink layers peppered with deep lacerations. His left arm could not be saved below the elbow. His parents, 6-year-old sister, grandparents, two aunts and a cousin were killed.
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Four-year-old Omar Abu Kuwaik, and his aunt Maha Abu Kuwaik, both from Gaza, are escorted through John F. Kennedy International Airport after departing a flight from Egypt on Wednesday, Jan. 17, in New York.
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Four-year-old Omar Abu Kuwaik and his aunt Maha Abu Kuwaik, both from Gaza, are escorted through John F. Kennedy International Airport after departing a flight from Egypt on Wednesday, Jan. 17, in New York. Through the efforts of family and strangers, Omar was brought out of Gaza and to the United States, where he received treatment, including a prosthetic arm.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Four-year-old Omar Abu Kuwaik, center, works on activities in a math workbook with clinical social worker Sandy Lulu, right, as his aunt Maha Abu Kuwaik looks on, at the Global Medical Relief Fund residence, Sunday, Feb. 11, in the Staten Island borough of New York. Omar Abu Kuwaik is far from his home in Gaza. The 4-year-old's parents and sister were killed by an Israeli airstrike, when he lost part of his arm.
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Four-year-old Omar Abu Kuwaik, center, and his aunt Maha Abu Kuwaik, both from Gaza, are processed by a US Customs and Border Protection agent at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Wednesday, Jan. 17, in New York. Through the efforts of family and strangers, Omar was brought out of Gaza and to the United States, where he received treatment, including a prosthetic arm.
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COURTESY MAHA ABU KUWAIK VIA AP

This undated photo provided by Maha Abu Kawaik shows Omar Abu Kuwaik at a hospital in Gaza shortly after being pulled from the ruins of his home that was bombed during an Israeli airstrike. Through the efforts of a chain of family and strangers, Omar was brought out of Gaza and flown to the United States, where he received treatment including a prosthetic arm.
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COURTESY MAHA ABU KUWAIK VIA AP

This undated photo, provided by Maha Abu Kuwaik, shows the family of 4-year-old Omar Abu Kuwaik at the Bureij refugee camp in Gaza. From left, are Omar's mother Azhaar Atef Aboul Eish, Omar, his father, Hazem Abu Kuwaik, and sister, Yasmeen Abu Kuwaik. On Dec. 6, 2023, Omar's parents and sister were killed in an Israeli airstrike.
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COURTESY MAHA ABU KUWAIK VIA AP

People look at a home that was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike on Dec. 6, 2023, in Nuseirat refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. Four-year-old Omar Abu Kawaik was pulled alive from the rubble and brought out of Gaza then flown to the United States, where he received treatment including a prosthetic arm.
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COURTESY MAHA ABU KUWAIK VIA AP

People look through the rubble of a home destroyed by an Israeli airstrike on Dec. 6, in Nuseirat refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. Four-year-old Omar Abu Kawaik was pulled alive from the rubble and brought out of Gaza then flown to the United States, where he received treatment including a prosthetic arm.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Maha Abu Kuwaik, from Gaza, sheds tears at the Global Medical Relief Fund residence while viewing images on her phone of her deceased relatives, casualties of Israeli airstrikes, Tuesday, Jan. 30, in the Staten Island borough of New York.
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Four-year-old Omar Abu Kuwaik, from Gaza, stands in a waiting room at Shriners Children's Hospital, Thursday, Jan. 18, in Philadelphia. On Dec. 6, 2023 two Israeli airstrikes slammed into Omar's grandparents' home in the Nuseirat refugee camp, in central Gaza. The explosion peeled the skin from his face, exposing raw pink layers peppered with deep lacerations. His left arm could not be saved below the elbow. His parents, 6-year-old sister, grandparents, two aunts and a cousin were killed.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Scott Kozin, right, holds the arm of 4-year-old Omar Abu Kuwaik for an x-ray while Omar's aunt Maha Abu Kuwaik holds his hand at Shriners Children's Hospital, Thursday, Jan. 18, in Philadelphia.
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Four-year-old Omar Abu Kuwaik cries as orthopedic surgeon Dr. Scott Kozin examines his arm at Shriners Children's Hospital, Thursday, Jan. 18, in Philadelphia.
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Four-year-old Omar Abu Kuwaik, from Gaza, poses for a selfie with Luis Gomez from Guatemala at the Global Medical Relief Fund residence on Sunday, Feb. 11, in the Staten Island borough of New York. Omar was the first Palestinian child from Gaza taken in by the Global Medical Relief Fund. The Staten Island charity's founder, Elissa Montanti, has spent a quarter-century getting hundreds of kids free medical care after they lost limbs to wars or disasters, including in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Omar Abu Kuwaik throws snow shortly after arriving from Gaza at the residence of the Global Medical Relief Fund as Khaolah Obahi of Rahma Worldwide looks on, Wednesday, Jan. 17, in the Staten Island borough of New York. The snow was the first that the 4-year-old had ever experienced.
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Orthotist Luis Velazquez, bottom, discusses the new prosthetic arm for 4-year-old Omar Abu Kuwaik, center, with his aunt, Maha Abu Kuwaik, top left, at Shriners Children's Hospital, Wednesday, Feb. 28, in Philadelphia.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Scott Kozin discusses the x-ray of 4-year-old Omar Abu Kuwaik with Elissa Montanti of the Global Medical Relief Fund at Shriners Children's Hospital, Thursday, Jan. 18, in Philadelphia.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Plastic surgeon Dr. Eugene Park and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Scott Kozin examine the arm of 4-year-old Omar Abu Kuwaik at Shriners Children's Hospital on Wednesday, Feb. 28, in Philadelphia.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Four-year-old Omar Abu Kuwaik strolls down the sidewalk near the Global Medical Relief Fund residence, Tuesday, Jan. 30, in the Staten Island borough of New York. Omar Abu Kuwaik is far from his home in Gaza. The 4-year-old's parents and sister were killed by an Israeli airstrike, and he lost part of his arm.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Maha Abu Kuwaik helps her nephew, 4-year-old Omar Abu Kuwaik, attach his new prosthetic arm at Shriners Children's Hospital on Wednesday, Feb. 28, in Philadelphia. Through the efforts of family and strangers, Omar was brought out of Gaza and to the United States, where he received treatment, including a prosthetic arm. He spent his days in a house run by a medical charity in New York City, accompanied by his aunt.
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Four-year-old Omar Abu Kuwaik expresses frustration at using his new prosthetic arm with his aunt, Maha Abu Kuwaik, during an occupational therapy session at Shriners Children's Hospital on Wednesday, Feb. 28, in Philadelphia. Through the efforts of family and strangers, Omar was brought out of Gaza and to the United States, where he received treatment, including a prosthetic arm. He spent his days in a house run by a medical charity in New York City, accompanied by his aunt.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Four-year-old Omar Abu Kuwaik examines his new prosthetic arm at Shriners Children's Hospital on Wednesday, Feb. 28, in Philadelphia. Omar Abu Kuwaik is far from his home in Gaza. The 4-year-old's parents and sister were killed by an Israeli airstrike, when he lost part of his arm.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Accompanied by his aunt, Maha Abu Kuwaik, 4-year-old Omar Abu Kuwaik walks through a corridor at Shriners Children's Hospital with his new prosthetic arm on Wednesday, Feb. 28, in Philadelphia. After his parents and sister were killed in an Israeli airstrike, Omar was pulled from the rubble and brought out of Gaza then to the United States, where he received treatment, including a prosthetic arm. He spent his days in a house run by a medical charity in New York City, accompanied by his aunt.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Four-year-old Omar Abu Kuwaik holds his new prosthetic arm in the air at Shriners Children's Hospital on Wednesday, Feb. 28, in Philadelphia. After his parents and sister were killed in an Israeli airstrike, Omar was pulled from the rubble and brought out of Gaza then to the United States, where he received treatment, including a prosthetic arm. He spent his days in a house run by a medical charity in New York City, accompanied by his aunt.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Four-year-old Omar Abu Kuwaik learns to use his new prosthetic arm with occupational therapist Meghan Gossenberger at Shriners Children's Hospital, Wednesday, Feb. 28, in Philadelphia.

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