Gaza doctor’s family amongst 79 killed in airstrikes

Palestinian health authorities in Gaza announced on Saturday that 79 bodies had been brought to medical facilities following Israeli military operations conducted over the previous day.

The figure does not include potential casualties from Gaza’s northern region, where medical infrastructure has become inaccessible due to ongoing conflict.

The fatalities include a devastating personal tragedy for one medical professional. Dr Alaa Najjar, who works as a paediatrician at Nasser Hospital, lost nine of her ten children when their home was struck on Friday evening in Khan Younis, situated in Gaza’s southern area.

Dr Ahmad al-Farra, who heads the paediatric unit at Nasser Hospital, reported that Dr Najjar was working her hospital shift when the attack occurred. Upon returning home, she discovered her house engulfed in flames. Her husband sustained serious injuries, whilst her sole surviving child—an 11-year-old boy—remains in critical condition.

The children who died were aged between seven months and 12 years. Health Ministry spokesman Khalil al-Dokran told the Associated Press that two young victims are still trapped beneath rubble.

Israeli military officials have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding this particular incident. However, the Israeli Defence Forces announced earlier on Saturday that their air operations had targeted over 100 locations throughout Gaza during the same timeframe.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, these recent deaths bring the conflict’s total death toll to 53,901 since the violence began on 7th October 2023.

The ministry stated that 3,747 Palestinians have died since Israel recommenced major operations on 18th March, part of an effort to compel Hamas to agree to modified ceasefire conditions.

Israel’s strategy has included implementing a comprehensive blockade affecting Gaza’s population of more than 2 million residents since early March.

This week marked the first time since the blockade’s implementation that a small number of humanitarian supply lorries entered the territory.

However, these deliveries represent a dramatic reduction from the approximately 600 daily lorry shipments that occurred during previous ceasefire periods.

International food security specialists have issued famine warnings, whilst photographs showing desperate Palestinians competing for meals at dwindling charitable feeding centres have prompted Israel’s international partners to urge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to permit increased humanitarian access.

Netanyahu’s government has presented a new American-backed system for aid delivery and distribution, though United Nations officials and partner organisations have declined participation, arguing it would weaponise food assistance and breach humanitarian standards.

Recent correspondence obtained by the Associated Press suggests Israel may be reconsidering its position to allow humanitarian organisations continued oversight of non-food relief efforts.

Whilst Israel maintains that Hamas has diverted aid supplies, UN representatives and humanitarian groups dispute claims of substantial diversion.

The 7th October assault on southern Israeli communities resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, with Hamas taking 251 individuals as hostages.

Israel’s subsequent military response has severely damaged much of Gaza, with the Health Ministry reporting that women and children comprise the majority of Palestinian casualties.

Israeli officials state they will continue with military operations until Hamas releases all 58 remaining Israeli hostages and surrenders its weapons.

Hamas leadership has indicated they will only return the remaining hostages in exchange for additional Palestinian prisoner releases, a permanent ceasefire, and complete Israeli military withdrawal from the territory.

Netanyahu has dismissed these conditions and pledged to maintain Israeli oversight of Gaza whilst supporting what he describes as voluntary Palestinian population relocation.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​