Dr Hamdi al-Najjar, husband of Dr Alaa al-Najjar, passed away from his injuries, leaving behind a tragic legacy as he reunites with their nine children who perished prior, according to a statement from Nasser Medical Complex. Dr Alaa had left her ten children at home to work in the emergency room on May 23, unaware of the subsequent devastation their family would suffer.
By the end of the day, reports indicated that the bodies of seven of Dr Alaa’s children were brought to the hospital, severely burned, after an Israeli airstrike struck their home, as stated by the Gaza Civil Defense. Tragically, the remains of two additional children, a seven-month-old and a twelve-year-old, are still unaccounted for. Only their eleven-year-old son, Adam, survived the attack.
The family’s residence in Khan Younis, located in southern Gaza, was reportedly targeted due to its proximity to militants, as per civilian defence sources and the health ministry. In response to inquiries about civilian casualties, the Israeli military confirmed that airstrikes were conducted on identified suspects adjacent to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops and noted that they were reviewing claims of civilian deaths.
In the broader context, Hamas is currently negotiating amendments to a recent US ceasefire proposal for Gaza. However, US envoy Steve Witkoff described Hamas’s response as “totally unacceptable,” highlighting the ongoing complexities of the situation.