A Mother’s Unbearable Loss: Gaza Doctor Loses Nine of Her Ten Children in Israeli Airstrike
Dr. Alaa al-Najjar, a pediatrician serving her community, faces unimaginable tragedy as her family is targeted amid ongoing attacks on Gaza.
While working to save lives at al-Tahrir Hospital in the Nasser Medical Complex, Dr. Alaa al-Najjar, a dedicated Palestinian pediatrician, was confronted with a horror no parent should ever endure. On Friday, as she tended to the wounded, the severely burned bodies of nine of her own children were brought into the hospital—victims of an Israeli airstrike that struck her home in southern Gaza.
The children, whose ages ranged from just six months to 12 years, were named Yahya, Rakan, Ruslan, Jubran, Eve, Revan, Sayden, Luqman, and Sidra. Only one child survived the attack and remains in critical condition.
The tragedy has drawn international condemnation. Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, shared on social media:
“Two doctors go to work to assist others. Nine of their kids were killed by an Israeli missile targeting their home. Only surviving child, in critical condition.” She described the attack as part of a “distinguishable sadistic pattern of the new phase of the genocide.”
Since October 2023, the Palestine Red Crescent Society reports that at least 1,400 healthcare professionals have been killed in Israeli attacks. Dr. Munir al-Bursh, director general of the Palestinian Ministry of Health, stated,
“This is the reality our medical staff in Gaza endure. Words fall short in describing the pain.”
He emphasised that Israel’s aggression is not limited to targeting healthcare workers, but extends to wiping out entire families.
Hamas condemned the strike on Dr. Al-Najjar’s home as; “A horrific massacre,” calling it a clear expression of the “sadistic nature of the occupation” and the “deep-rooted spirit of revenge” driving Israeli leadership.
The group accused the Israeli regime of deliberately targeting medical personnel, civilians, and their families in an attempt to break their will.
This devastating loss is a stark reminder of the immense suffering endured by families in Gaza, and the extraordinary sacrifices made by those who continue to serve their communities under relentless attack. Dr. Alaa al-Najjar’s story is one of countless tragedies, each a testament to the resilience and martyrdom of Gaza’s people.
https://thisisrobinaqureshi.substack.com/p/gaza-paediatrician-receives-bodies?r=5hi2yf