A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded in Gaza when a doctor lost nine of her ten children in an Israeli airstrike. This devastating incident highlights the dire situation in the region, where providing medical care is becoming nearly impossible.
Chris Lockyear, the secretary general of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), spoke to Sky News about the attack that occurred on Friday in Khan Younis. The children’s bodies were brought to the Nasser Medical Complex, where their mother, Dr. Alaa al Najjar, was working. The ages of the deceased children ranged from just seven months to 12 years old. Along with the loss of her children, Dr. Najjar’s husband, Hamdi, was severely injured, and their only surviving son, Adam, aged 11, is in critical condition.
Lockyear described the scene, noting that the bodies were not only burned but were also described as "charcoaled." He emphasized the challenges faced by medical staff in Gaza, particularly as the Nasser Medical Complex has been targeted in three airstrikes in the past two months alone. This highlights the severe difficulties in delivering humanitarian aid and medical services in the area.
The ongoing conflict has led to repeated attacks on hospitals. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claim that Hamas militants are using these facilities as shields. In recent weeks, four major hospitals have had to suspend operations due to their proximity to hostilities. According to the World Health Organization, there have been 28 attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza recently, contributing to a staggering total of 697 attacks since October 2023.
Currently, only 19 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza are operational, with most suffering damage or destruction. In just 24 hours, the Hamas-run health ministry reported that 79 people were killed by Israeli strikes, a figure that does not include casualties from the northern part of Gaza, where hospitals are now inaccessible.
Lockyear expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis, stating that there are "no public hospitals open in the north anymore." He criticized the ongoing restrictions on essential resources like water and electricity, which exacerbate the already dire conditions in Gaza.
While Israel has allowed around 300 aid trucks to enter Gaza since lifting an 11-week blockade, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called this amount a "teaspoon" compared to what is truly needed. Reports indicate that only about a third of these trucks have made it to warehouses within Gaza due to security issues.
Ali al Najjar, the uncle of the deceased children, recounted the harrowing experience of trying to save them. He described the difficulty of identifying the children due to their charred remains.
The IDF stated that their airstrike targeted individuals identified as threats near their troops in Khan Younis. They claimed that civilians were evacuated from the area for their safety prior to the operation, but the situation remains tragic for many families.
The war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, resulting in significant casualties. Israel’s military response has led to widespread destruction in Gaza, with reports of over 53,000 Palestinian deaths, many of whom are women and children. The humanitarian crisis continues to deepen as the conflict shows no signs of resolution.