Victim of Israeli strike on Gaza port had to have her hand amputated, says daughter

Middle East Eye spoke to Ibtisam Murtaja, the daughter of 70-year-old Layla Murtaja, whose photo went viral after she was seen covered in blood and severely injured following an Israeli drone strike on a café at Gaza City’s port. The attack killed six people, including Layla’s son, and left her in intensive care.

“We didn’t hear the missile,” Ibtisam said. “I woke up, there were so many bodies. I didn’t know who to help and who to leave.”

Ibtisam told MEE that her mother’s right hand, which had been her only functioning hand for the past six years, had to be amputated due to the severity of her injuries.