According to the United Nations, more than 45,000 people were killed in Israel’s response following the October 7 Hamas attack, including 14,500 children. According to reportstens of thousands more are missing or have died following the attacks, with starvation one of the most widespread causes.

Cook says meeting Abbas literally helped drive home the seriousness of the situation in Gaza.

“People become very, very quickly desensitized to all these numbers and it’s hard to imagine what 40,000 or 400,000 deaths look like,” he said. “Having the face of someone who has been through this, who has experienced this and continues to experience this, can put things into perspective and help people understand the true magnitude of this situation.”

Shriners has partnered with PCRF and other organizations to provide treatment to hundreds of children who have lost limbs or eyes or suffered severe burns in international conflicts. Many of these young victims received prostheses. As recently as September, the hospital treated another young Palestinian who lost a leg in the war.

Raghed Ahmed, a PCRF volunteer who organized the welcome party, said the organization’s success in helping Abbas brings a bright spot in an otherwise depressing time.

“I think I feel exactly what anyone else with a heart and soul would feel watching the humanitarian crisis unfold in Gaza,” she said. “Of course it impacts me more directly because I am Palestinian, because I have family in Palestine and I have been able to build a deep connection with my land and the people who belong to it – but I am very happy to be able to take the emotions I’m feeling right now and really put them into the work that PCRF and other organizations are doing to help save and care for children like her.