'I want to become more beautiful,' says Gazan girl who lost her jaw in air strike

Mazionah Damo was at home when an attack killed two of her siblings

A photo composite of Mazionah Damo before and after her surgery. Photos: Ahmed Damo

Twelve-year-old Mazionah liked to play with dolls and spend time with her younger brother, Mohannad.

Now, she cannot do either. Mohannad, 10, and sister Hala, 13, were killed by an Israeli strike on their home in Nuseirat refugee camp in June 8. Mazionah's jaw was shattered in the attack.

A video that shows severe injuries to her head was circulating on social media.

She hopes now to find a way out of Gaza and reconstructive surgery for her face.

“I want to travel abroad and become more beautiful than before,” she told The National from her hospital bed in Al Nasser Medical Complex.

Her father Ahmad Damo, 40, said his wife and all their children were at home when the Israeli bombing began.

“When I came back, I saw chaos in the area. I asked someone what happened to our neighbourhood. He told me to ask about my family, instead of asking about the neighbourhood,” Mr Damo told The National.

“I collapsed right then and there.”

There was rubble and dead bodies where his home once stood, he said.

“People had gathered to help rescue my family, and others. But even they were shot at, and another strike hit nearby, killing some of them.”

Mr Damo looked for his family in nearby hospitals and found them being treated as “unregistered or unknown patients”, he said.

His youngest daughter Tala, 4, suffered injuries to her eyes. His wife, Areej, too, had injuries to her face.

Mazionah's jaw was disfigured and needs complex maxillofacial surgery, which can only be done abroad.

“My two other children were found in pieces,” Mr Damo said.

His wife's mother and sister were killed in nearby strikes. Her sister's body has not been recovered.

A team of doctors from the non-profit organisation FAJR Scientific have been overseeing Mazionah's care. They are trying to raise money to take her out of Gaza for treatment.

On Saturday, Israeli authorities refused her family's application to allow her mother to travel as her guardian.

Since hearing that she could not travel abroad with her mother, her situation has deteriorated, Mr Damo said.

Now, Mr Damo, his wife and daughter Tala stay by Mazionah's side.

The family said they would try to find another way for their daughter to get treatment.

This is not the first time the family has suffered from Israeli attacks.

In 2014, an Israeli strike destroyed their home and injured Mr Damo and his heavily pregnant wife.

He suffered from a concussion and fractures to his back which forced him to quit his job at a clothing boutique as he was no longer able to stand for prolonged periods.

Since then, Mr Damo has had to find temporary jobs or rely on the kindness of others to get by.

“I won't lie. There were days when we couldn't find food to eat.”

“Even before October 7, we did not live like the rest of the world. We have been under siege for 17 years,” Mr Damo said.