An Israeli airstrike on Khan Younis tragically resulted in the death of nine out of ten children of doctor Alaa al-Najjar. The incident underscores the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with the UN warning of severe deprivation faced by its citizens amid continued military operations.
Tragic Airstrike Claims Lives of Doctor's Children in Gaza
Tragic Airstrike Claims Lives of Doctor's Children in Gaza
Nine children of Dr. Alaa al-Najjar are killed in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, with ongoing humanitarian crises worsening in Gaza.
In a devastating turn of events, an Israeli airstrike in Gaza has claimed the lives of nine children belonging to Dr. Alaa al-Najjar, a local physician, according to reports from Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. The attack left one child and her husband injured but alive. Graeme Groom, a British surgeon working at the hospital, disclosed that he had provided emergency treatment to her surviving 11-year-old son.
Footage verified by the BBC depicted the harrowing scene as civil defense teams carried charred bodies from the wreckage of the bombed home in Khan Younis. The assault occurred shortly after Dr. al-Najjar’s husband, Hamdi, had returned home after dropping her off at work.
The latest reports from the Hamas-run civil defense agency indicated that the airstrikes resulted in over 70 fatalities on Friday alone, with additional casualties registered on Saturday. Dr. Muneer Alboursh of the Hamas-led health ministry stated that the family was targeted immediately after the father returned home, raising questions about the rationale behind the strike.
Groom, who reported on the father’s severe injuries, noted that he had no ties to military or political factions and criticized the ongoing violence as “unimaginable” for the grieving family. Amidst the escalating death toll—over 53,000 in Gaza since the conflict reignited on October 7, including significant numbers of children—relatives have called for mercy from the international community.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently raised alarms regarding the worsening humanitarian situation, labeling it possibly "the cruellest phase" of the ongoing conflict, while decrying the blockade limiting humanitarian aid access, which has recently seen a slight easement. Critically, humanitarian organizations estimate that the aid currently being delivered falls drastically short of the needs of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents, who are experiencing catastrophic shortages of food, water, and medical assistance.
Reports from the ground indicate that increasing desperation has led to incidents of unrest, with looting and frantic efforts by citizens to access the scant resources available. Meanwhile, the Israeli military continues its extensive operations, aiming to pressure Hamas regarding the hostages taken during the earlier conflict.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, voices calling for compassion and support for the beleaguered population of Gaza grow louder, emphasizing the urgent need for a sustainable resolution to the ongoing violence.
