Dr. Hamdi al-Najjar, a Palestinian physician, passed away due to severe injuries from an Israeli airstrike that also claimed the lives of his nine children in Khan Younis. His wife and one son remain the only survivors of the tragedy.
Gaza Doctor Losing His Entire Family to Airstrike Dies from Injuries
Gaza Doctor Losing His Entire Family to Airstrike Dies from Injuries
Tragic end for Dr. Hamdi al-Najjar, who succumbed to injuries sustained in the same Israeli airstrike that killed nine of his children in Gaza.
Dr. Hamdi al-Najjar, a 40-year-old Palestinian doctor, has died from injuries he sustained during an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on May 23, which tragically resulted in the deaths of nine of his children. Health officials confirmed that Hamdi succumbed to his wounds on Saturday, marking a devastating loss in a family already shattered by violence.
On the day of the airstrike, Dr. al-Najjar had just returned home from dropping off his wife, fellow physician Dr. Alaa al-Najjar, at Nasser Hospital, where they both worked. Moments after his return, their home in Khan Younis was directly hit, resulting in the horrific loss of nine children aged between six months and 12 years, leaving only their 11-year-old son, Adam, who remains hospitalized, and Alaa as the surviving family members.
Hamdi had been receiving treatment for critical brain and internal injuries. His brother, Dr. Ali al-Najjar, remembered him as a dedicated father who often helped poorer patients without charge. The extent of his injuries included significant damage to various organs and limbs, and medical professionals expressed their grief and disbelief at the unfolding tragedy.
British surgeon Graeme Groom, who treated Adam, described the situation as “unbearably cruel” given that Alaa had spent her career caring for children. Adam was reportedly in serious condition with severe injuries, and his uncle pleaded for urgent medical assistance from the Italian government to transfer the boy for proper care outside Gaza.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that they were reviewing the incident, claiming they targeted suspects in a military engagement zone. As the ongoing conflict escalates, recent reports show staggering casualties in Gaza, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting at least 54,418 deaths since the commencement of military operations following a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, that resulted in significant fatalities and hostages.
The heartbreaking story of Dr. Hamdi al-Najjar and his family highlights the human cost of the ongoing conflict, illustrating the dire circumstances faced by families caught in the crossfire.
