Dr. Alaa Al-Najjar, a pediatrician in Gaza, lost nine of her ten children due to an Israeli air strike on their home. Her husband is critically injured, and their only surviving son underwent emergency surgery. The incident reflects increasing humanitarian crises in the region as calls for international assistance rise amid ongoing violence and loss of life.
In a harrowing series of events unfolding in Gaza, pediatrician Dr. Alaa Al-Najjar has suffered an unimaginable loss, with nine of her ten children perishing in an Israeli air strike that struck their home. Dr. Al-Najjar was attending to patients at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis when the tragedy occurred. Her husband, also a doctor, was critically injured in the attack, leaving their only surviving child—a severely wounded 11-year-old boy—requiring emergency surgery soon thereafter.
Dr. Muneer Alboursh, the director general of Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, expressed the profound sorrow the community feels: “This is the reality our medical staff in Gaza endure. Words fall short in describing the pain. In Gaza, it is not only healthcare workers who are targeted; Israel’s aggression goes further, wiping out entire families.”
Disturbing footage from the Palestinian Civil Defense has surfaced, showing the devastating impact of the strike as medics pulled the remains of young children from the rubble of a destroyed building in Khan Younis, a scene marked by grief and desperation.
British surgeon Dr. Graeme Groom, volunteering at Nasser hospital, described Dr. Al-Najjar’s surviving son as his last patient of the day, revealing the stark reality of the situation. “He was very badly injured and seemed much younger as we lifted him onto the operating table,” he recounted in a video message. Dr. Groom noted that both parents work as doctors and emphasized the senselessness of the tragedy, stating, “It is unimaginable for that poor woman, both of them are doctors here… and yet his poor wife is the only uninjured one, who has the prospect of losing her husband.”
Youssef Al-Najjar, a relative of the family, made a heartfelt plea 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.” This statement reflects the broader suffering experienced by many families amid the conflict.
Dr. Victoria Rose, another British doctor, noted that the family lived close to the petrol station, suggesting the likelihood of the attack being related to a significant explosion. “That is life in Gaza. That is the way it goes in Gaza,” she said, summarizing the grim reality faced by so many.
The Israel Defense Forces have refrained from commenting on this specific strike; however, they issued a general statement indicating that over 100 targets in Gaza had been engaged within a 24-hour period. The Hamas-run health ministry cited at least 74 Palestinian deaths occurring during this timeframe alone.
The United Nations officials have raised alarms over the escalating conflict, with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighting Israel’s restrictions on necessary humanitarian aid, calling it a humanitarian catastrophe. While the blockade has seen a slight easing, aid deliveries remain drastically low, unable to meet the needs of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents.
Amid the ongoing violence, the conflict has already claimed over 53,000 Palestinian lives since October 7, 2023, a figure reported by Gaza’s health ministry, which includes both civilians and combatants in their count. Given the bloodshed and havoc wreaked, the situation necessitates urgent international attention and aid, as the dire conditions continue to spiral out of control.
The heart-wrenching story of Dr. Alaa Al-Najjar sheds light on the broader tragedy unfolding in Gaza, where families are being decimated by ongoing military actions. Amid appalling loss and suffering, international pleas for mercy and aid have escalated, with the humanitarian crisis deepening. The exacerbating conditions pose an urgent call to action for the global community as they grapple with the complexities of the conflict and its devastating impact on civilian lives.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
