On the morning of October 7, 2023, a Hamas rocket intended for the Israeli settlement of Efrat in the occupied West Bank fell short by several hundred meters, striking the family home of 7-year-old Kinaan Dadou. A fragment of the rocket’s shrapnel hit Kinaan in the head, leaving him in a critical condition. Despite an Israeli soldier passing by and promising assistance, no ambulance arrived, and his parents had to transport him to the hospital themselves. Due to the chaos on that day, it took six hours before he received medical attention, during which time brain hemorrhaging worsened his injury.

Now three years later, Kinaan, who is 10 years old, remains in a persistent vegetative state. His parents care for him at their home in Um Rukbeh, a Palestinian village west of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank’s Area C. Kinaan lies immobilized, dependent on a feeding tube and tracheostomy to breathe, his parents describing the challenge of witnessing their son suffer with limited ability to communicate or respond.

Kinaan’s family finds themselves caught between authorities. The Palestinian Authority (PA), responsible for healthcare in Area C under the Oslo Accords, has provided initial treatment, including multiple brain surgeries and partial skull removal, but has declined to cover ongoing specialist care and has been inconsistent in supplying medication. Palestinian law mandates significant support for people with disabilities, including coverage of at least 75% of rehabilitation costs, especially for children, but Kinaan’s parents say these provisions have not been fulfilled. Palestinian health ministry officials did not respond to requests for comment.

Israel, which maintains control over Area C under military occupation and regulates key aspects of life including construction permits and movement restrictions, has denied jurisdiction over Kinaan’s case, citing the location of his injury outside its formal authority. Israeli authorities also warn the family about potential demolition of their home. The family’s legal representatives note that Israel, as the occupying power, holds certain responsibilities under international law to provide medical services, though how this applies in Kinaan’s situation remains unclear. An Israeli military liaison body did not respond to inquiries.

Financially strained and unable to cover costly treatments recommended by a specialist in Turkey, the Dadou family estimates that Kinaan’s intensive rehabilitation and further surgery would require around $250,000, a sum beyond their means. Kinaan’s father, Alaa Hassan Yakoub Dadou, who lost his job as a laborer in Israel after work permits were revoked post-October 7, highlights the monthly medication costs of about 4,000 shekels (approximately $1,100). To reduce expenses, his wife, Woroud Dadou, has begun performing routine medical care such as changing Kinaan’s breathing tube, having learned by observing hospital staff.

The family contrasts Kinaan’s treatment with that of an Israeli child injured in the same Hamas attack, who received immediate evacuation abroad for advanced care and has shown improvement. They express frustration at the perceived lack of responsibility from both the Palestinian and Israeli authorities. “The Palestinian side says, ‘This isn’t our area,’” Alaa said. “Neither side takes responsibility for us.”

Kinaan’s parents remain hopeful for progress but acknowledge the limitations of his recovery. They express their desire to ease his suffering and the emotional toll of managing his condition without clear answers or adequate support. His father reflected, “We are realistic — we know he probably will never be the same as he was. But at least we want to relieve his suffering and relieve our guilt.”

The family’s situation highlights the complexities faced by Palestinians living in Area C, trapped between overlapping jurisdictions and limited access to essential services amid ongoing tensions in the West Bank.