GAZA — Israeli forces killed nine children in an airstrike on their home in Khan Younis on Friday. The army claimed it targeted “suspects” near its forces in what it called a “combat zone.”
But the so-called “suspects” were not fighters. They were children. They were the sons and daughters of two doctors.
Dr. Alaa Al-Najjar, a pediatrician at Nasser Hospital, lost nine of her ten children in the strike. Her husband, Dr. Hamdi Al-Najjar, is in critical condition. Only their youngest child, Adam, survived—but he is injured.
The children killed were Yahya, Rakan, Raslan, Gubran, Eve, Revan, Sidin, Luqman, and Sidra.
The Israeli army claimed it had ‘warned’ civilians to evacuate Khan Younis before launching its attacks. But Al-Najjar family had returned briefly to their home. Minutes later, a drone strike killed nearly all of them. Israel has been attacking all areas across Gaza, including so-called safe zones like Al-Mawasi.
The army claimed it is “investigating” whether civilians were hurt. Yet it described the children it burned alive as “suspects.”
Israel has long targeted Gaza’s medical workers. Now, it is destroying their families.
Since October 7, 2023, 1,402 medical workers have been killed in Gaza. Another 362 have been kidnapped, including three who died under torture in Israeli custody. At least 34 hospitals have been destroyed, damaged, or forced out of service. Israel has also shut down 80 clinics and attacked 142 ambulances. Fifteen civil defense centers have been bombed.
The health system in Gaza is on the brink of collapse. Israel continues to block international medical teams from entering. Fuel, medicine, and equipment are almost gone. Doctors are working under extreme pressure with almost no supplies and constant fear.
C. QNN
