An Israeli airstrike on Friday afternoon in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, resulted in the deaths of at least seven children from the Najjar family. The attack was part of a renewed escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Alaa al-Najjar, a pediatric physician, was at work at Nasser Hospital when she learned her home had been hit. Her brother-in-law, Ali al-Najjar, reported that emergency workers recovered three charred bodies before finding a fourth, which Alaa recognized as her children.
According to Gaza health officials, two children from the Najjar family remain missing, presumed dead under the rubble. The strike was attributed to an explosion from a building next door that was storing car tires, which caught fire and spread to the Najjars’ home.
The Israeli military stated that they targeted "suspects" near their forces in Khan Younis and were investigating civilian casualties. Video evidence showed emergency workers retrieving bodies from the site, with reports indicating only two survivors: Alaa's husband, Hamdi, in critical condition, and one child, Adam, in moderate condition.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 50,000 fatalities in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The current phase of the war began on October 7, 2023, with a surprise attack by Hamas that killed around 1,200 people in Israel and resulted in hostages being taken back to Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged that this campaign against Hamas will lead to its defeat. However, critics argue that the conflict is likely to persist with no clear resolution, further exacerbating the civilian toll in Gaza.
The Israeli military has issued evacuation orders for areas near Khan Younis, including the Najjar family’s neighborhood, citing the need to protect civilians. Despite these warnings, the Najjars chose to remain in their home, concerned about the conditions in crowded tent camps and uncertain about safety elsewhere in Khan Younis.
Alaa al-Najjar has served as a pediatrician at Nasser Hospital for approximately ten years. Her husband, while occasionally expressing views that seemed to support Hamas, has no formal ties to the group, according to family statements.