Gaza Strip, Palestine/London, Ontario, Canada – In an unprecedented breakthrough for medical innovation under siege, Glia, a medical solidarity organization, has developed and deployed the first external fixator (a critical orthopedic device for severe fractures) ever designed and manufactured entirely inside the Gaza Strip. Created using local materials, 3D printing, recycled plastics, and solar power, the device has already saved three patients from possible amputation or permanent disability amid the near-total collapse of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure and blockade on medical imports.

This achievement comes as over 90% of Gaza’s health facilities are damaged or destroyed, and conventional external fixators — costing upwards of $500 and requiring specialized imports — have become unobtainable due to the Israeli blockade. With hospitals overwhelmed, electricity scarce, and supply chains severed, Glia’s fixator represents a lifeline born from necessity.