Gaza Doctor Succumbs to Injuries Following Tragic Airstrike
Dr. Hamdi al-Najjar, a physician based in Gaza's Khan Younis, passed away due to wounds sustained during an Israeli airstrike last week. The same strike claimed the lives of nine of his ten children, leaving only one surviving child, 11-year-old Adam. The details surrounding the exact cause and timeline of Dr. al-Najjar’s death remain unclear despite earlier images showing him alive and without visible injuries.
Israeli Defence Forces Statement
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the airstrike targeted several suspected militants operating inside a building near their positions in Khan Younis. The area had been cleared of civilians by the IDF prior to combat operations for their safety. Investigations into claims of civilian casualties are currently ongoing.
A Family Torn Apart: Alaa al-Najjar’s Sorrow
Dr. Alaa al-Najjar, a 35-year-old paediatrician and wife of Hamdi al-Najjar, faced an unimaginable tragedy. On the morning of the airstrike, she said goodbye to her ten children before heading to work at the Nasser Medical Complex. The youngest child, six-month-old Sayden, was asleep at the time. Despite the constant threat of airstrikes near their home, Alaa continued her medical duties treating infants.
Hours after she left, seven of her children’s bodies were brought to the hospital where she worked. Two others, including Sayden, were initially trapped beneath the rubble. Her only surviving child, Adam, was found injured but alive.
Eyewitness Account from Hamdi’s Brother
Ali al-Najjar, Hamdi’s brother, arrived at the bombing site to find Adam covered in soot and clothes torn but alive. Hamdi was severely injured, suffering from head and chest wounds and a severed arm, yet was still breathing with difficulty.
Alaa arrived to witness the retrieval of her daughter Revan’s body, which was severely burnt. Identification of the children was challenging due to the extent of the injuries, and they were recognized only at the hospital morgue. The deceased children were named Yahya, Rakan, Ruslan, Jubran, Eve, Revan, Sayden, Luqman, and Sidra.
Aftermath and Broader Impact
Following the burial, despite her overwhelming loss, Alaa checked on her husband and surviving son. Hamdi was reported to have sustained critical brain damage and multiple fractures. Adam’s condition was serious but stable.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, since the outbreak of the conflict, nearly 54,000 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 16,500 children.
