Tragedy in Gaza: Israeli Airstrike Claims Lives of Doctor’s Children
A Devastating Loss in Gaza
In a heartbreaking incident, an Israeli airstrike on a home in Khan Younis, Gaza, has killed nine of the ten children of a doctor working at Nasser hospital. The hospital confirmed the tragedy, stating that one of Dr. Alaa al-Najjar’s children and her husband survived the attack.
Heartbreaking Accounts
British surgeon Graeme Groom, who operates at Nasser hospital, shared the grim details of the incident. He operated on the surviving 11-year-old boy and described the situation as ‘unimaginable’ for his mother, Dr. al-Najjar. Dr. Muneer Alboursh, director of the Gaza health ministry, revealed on X that the al-Najjar family house was struck just minutes after Dr. al-Najjar’s husband, Hamdi, returned home after driving his wife to work. He added that the eldest of the deceased children was 12 years old.
The Israeli military acknowledged the airstrike, claiming it targeted ‘several suspects’ operating near IDF troops in Khan Younis.
International Calls for Mercy
The incident has sparked international outrage and calls for mercy. Youssef al-Najjar, a relative of the doctor, issued a desperate plea to all countries and international organizations for compassion, stating, ‘Enough! Have mercy on us! We plead to all countries, the international community, the people, Hamas, and all factions to have mercy on us. We are exhausted from the displacement and the hunger, enough!’
Gaza Faces Humanitarian Crisis
The airstrike comes amidst an ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with the UN warning that the territory is facing ‘the cruellest phase’ of the war. Israel’s blockade on humanitarian aid, partially lifted earlier this week, has severely restricted the flow of essential supplies into Gaza. Despite the partial lifting, the UN insists that the amount of aid entering is insufficient, with calls for a significant increase in the daily truck deliveries.
The limited amount of food that has reached Gaza has led to desperate scenes of hunger and looting. People are struggling to find basic necessities, and reports of malnourished mothers unable to breastfeed their babies highlight the gravity of the situation.
