Behind the Story : Rhana Natour on the plight of Palestinian child amputees

In this episode of The Sunday Long Read Podcast, Amanda Ulrich interviews journalist Rhana Natour about her National Magazine Award-winning story for The Atavist Magazine, which profiles Layan Albaz, a young Gazan girl who lost her legs in an airstrike and was brought to the U.S. for medical treatment. Natour discusses the origins of the story, the challenges of reporting on traumatized children, and the complexities of Layan's personality, particularly her anger and resilience. She shares updates on Layan's progress, including her use of prosthetics and her role in welcoming other child amputees from Gaza, while also highlighting the dire situation for pediatric amputees who remain in Gaza without access to adequate care. The conversation emphasizes the importance of long-form narrative journalism in capturing the full humanity of individuals affected by conflict and trauma.