Israeli Strike Destroys Home
On Friday, an Israeli airstrike struck Khan Younis and destroyed the home of Dr Alaa al-Najjar, a pediatrician. The blast killed nine of her ten children. At the time, she was treating patients at Nasser Hospital. Her oldest child was only 12 years old.
Family Suffers Devastating Loss
Dr al-Najjar’s husband and one of their children survived the strike but sustained injuries. Her husband, also a doctor, had just come back home after driving her to work. Their house stood near a petrol station, and the explosion flattened the building.
Doctor Continues Working Amid Grief
British volunteer surgeon Graeme Groom treated the surviving child, 11-year-old Adam. He confirmed that the father had no political ties and didn’t use social media.
“It is unimaginable,” Groom said. “Nine children gone. His injuries were bad, but the loss is worse.”
Footage filmed by the Hamas-run health ministry and verified by the BBC showed rescuers pulling burnt bodies of the children from the rubble. Dr al-Najjar kept working at the hospital while her children’s bodies arrived one by one.
Relative Pleads for Mercy
Youssef al-Najjar, a relative, urged the world to help:
“Enough! Have mercy on us! We plead to all countries, the international community, the people, Hamas, and all factions to have mercy on us,” he said. “We are exhausted from the displacement and the hunger. Enough!”
Mohammed Saqer, head of nursing at Nasser Hospital, described what happened.
“She watched her children arrive,” he said. “Rescue workers found seven quickly. They later discovered the other two. It’s one of the most heartbreaking scenes we’ve ever faced. She saved children every day—and then lost nearly all of her own.”
Volunteers Describe Horrific Scene
Dr Victoria Rose, another British volunteer, received footage from colleagues on the ground.
“The video shows rescuers pulling all of the children from the fire,” she said. “They were completely charred. It’s horrific.”
On Saturday, the Israeli military addressed the incident in a statement:
“An IDF aircraft struck suspects near IDF troops in Khan Younis. The area is a war zone. We evacuated civilians before operations began. We are reviewing claims of civilian harm.”
Death Toll Keeps Climbing
The airstrike on Dr al-Najjar’s home was one of several that day. Gaza’s health ministry reported that airstrikes killed at least 79 people within 24 hours, and the toll may increase. One strike killed 30 members of the Dardouna family, including infants. A photo of a baby girl being pulled from rubble in her pajamas has gone viral.
International Outrage Grows
Hamas condemned the airstrike and called it “a horrific massacre.” The group said Israel acted with “sadistic revenge.”
Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur for the Palestinian territories, called the attack part of a “sadistic pattern” in what she described as genocide.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
Due to international pressure, Israeli officials say they may soon allow aid groups to distribute non-food items in Gaza. A new group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, is being formed with help from the U.S. and Israel. However, it hasn’t started working yet. Israel still tightly controls food aid.
For nearly three months, Israel has blocked the entry of food, fuel, and medicine. This blockade has worsened the crisis for 2.3 million people. Aid groups report a sharp rise in hunger and malnutrition. The UN says it has not found evidence of widespread aid theft by Hamas, despite Israeli claims.
A Symbol of Civilian Suffering
Dr Alaa al-Najjar’s story has become a symbol of the war’s toll on civilians. She dedicated her life to helping children. In one terrible moment, she lost almost everything. Her story reminds the world of the true cost of war.
Courtesy of The Guardian
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