Dr. Hamdi Al-Najjar, a Palestinian father who lost all nine of his children in an Israeli airstrike on May 24 in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, has succumbed to injuries sustained in the same attack, Gaza Health Ministry Director-General Munir Alborsh confirmed on May 31. The strike destroyed the Al-Najjar family home, leaving only the grieving mother, Dr. Alaa Al-Najjar—a pediatrician—and their injured son, Adam, as survivors.
Dr. Alaa, who was on duty at Nasser Medical Complex at the time, was forced to identify the charred bodies of her children. The devastation has shocked the region and added to the growing number of civilian casualties in Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which began in October 2023. According to health officials, over 54,000 Palestinians—mostly women and children—have been killed so far, and humanitarian agencies warn of widespread famine.
Israel has stated it will investigate the drone strike that targeted the Al-Najjar home. The attack comes amid mounting international pressure, with Israeli leaders facing war crimes and genocide charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ), respectively.
