Ms. Rachel meets Gaza toddler injured by ‘Israeli’ airstrike

• Jood's mother was killed in an ‘Israeli’ airstrike while shielding him as she put him to bed.
• He suffered a severe leg fracture when he was two years old.
• The Palestine Children's Relief Fund helped evacuate him for treatment, allowing surgeons to save his leg.

Children’s educator and online personality Ms Rachel has shared the story of Jood, a young Palestinian boy from Gaza whose mother was killed while protecting him during an ‘Israeli’ airstrike.

In a social media post, Ms Rachel said she had spent time with Jood, describing the encounter as an “absolute joy and a gift” while drawing attention to the devastating circumstances surrounding his injuries and the loss of his mother.

According to her account, Jood was just two years old when he sustained a severe open comminuted fracture to his leg in an ‘Israel’i airstrike. His mother was killed while putting him to bed, having shielded him with her body as the strike hit.

Jood was later evacuated through the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF), whose medical team arranged treatment that allowed surgeons to save his leg.

Ms Rachel thanked PCRF and individuals involved in his evacuation and care, including Tareq Hailat and Vivian Khalaf, praising their efforts to help the child recover.

The encounter comes amid Ms Rachel’s continued advocacy for Palestinian children. She has repeatedly used her platform to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, share stories of injured and displaced children, and raise funds for humanitarian assistance.

In Aug. 2025, she spoke to PBS NewsHour about her decision to advocate for Gaza’s children, saying her responsibility was to stand up for children whose human rights were being violated. She has also appeared in interviews discussing the impact of the war on Palestinian families and faced criticism over her outspoken support.

In Sep. 2026, she pledged $1 million to the PCRF, matching a donation by musician Macklemore to support Palestinian children. 

In her latest post, Ms Rachel highlighted the scale of the toll on children in Gaza, citing figures of more than 21,000 children killed, approximately 44,000 injured and around 56,000 who have lost one or both parents.

Read more: Footage shows ‘Israeli’ strike destroying Gaza home