Gaza Pediatrician Dr. Alaa al-Najjar Loses Nine Children and Husband in Israeli Airstrike on Khan Younis Home

On the afternoon of May 23, 2025, a catastrophic Israeli airstrike struck a residential home in the Qizan al-Najjar area of Khan Younis, southern Gaza, leaving a trail of unimaginable grief. Dr. Alaa al-Najjar, a 38-year-old pediatrician at Al-Tahrir Clinic within the Nasser Medical Complex, was on duty treating wounded children when she received the harrowing news: her own home had been hit. The strike killed nine of her ten children—Yahya (12), Rakan (10), Ruslan (7), Jubran (8), Eve (9), Revan (5), Sayden (6 months), Luqman (2), and Sidra (1)—and left her husband, Dr. Hamdi al-Najjar, a fellow doctor at Nasser Hospital, and their surviving son, 11-year-old Adam, critically injured. Dr. Hamdi succumbed to his wounds nine days later, on June 1, 2025, deepening the tragedy for Dr. Alaa, who now grieves the loss of nearly her entire family while continuing her work amidst Gaza’s ongoing conflict.

The Day of the Strike

Dr. Alaa began her day like many others, kissing her ten children goodbye before heading to Nasser Hospital, a routine shaped by her commitment to saving lives in a war-torn region. Her husband, Dr. Hamdi, drove her to work and returned home shortly before the airstrike hit at approximately 3:00 p.m. According to Dr. Suheir al-Najjar, a niece, the Israeli military first launched a dud missile, which failed to detonate, prompting Hamdi to rush inside to evacuate his children. Moments later, a second missile struck, leveling the house and engulfing it in flames. The precision of the strike, enabled by advanced targeting technology, has raised questions about whether the Israeli military was aware that the home sheltered a family of doctors and their young children.

Ali al-Najjar, Hamdi’s older brother, rushed to the scene upon hearing of the explosion. He described a chaotic and heart-wrenching sight: his nephew Adam lay injured on the street, covered in soot and blood, while Hamdi was found bleeding heavily from his head and chest, his arm severed. Ali frantically searched for the other children amidst the rubble, but the collapsed structure made recovery efforts nearly impossible. Emergency responders, including Gaza Civil Defense, pulled seven charred bodies from the debris, some so badly burned that Dr. Alaa could not identify them when they arrived at the hospital morgue. The remains of two children, Yahya and Sayden, were never recovered, presumed buried under the collapsed home.

A Family Dedicated to Healing

Dr. Alaa and Dr. Hamdi al-Najjar were both respected physicians at Nasser Hospital, a critical healthcare facility in Gaza struggling under the weight of relentless Israeli attacks and a severe shortage of medical staff. Dr. Alaa, described by colleagues as a devout Muslim and compassionate pediatrician, had returned to work just six months after giving birth to her youngest child, Sayden, driven by her duty to treat Gaza’s wounded children. The couple’s ten children, ranging in age from six months to 12 years, held Egyptian citizenship and had plans to relocate to Cairo for education at Al-Azhar University, a dream cut short by the airstrike. Colleagues emphasized that the family had no known political or military affiliations, with British surgeon Dr. Graeme Groom noting that Dr. Hamdi had “no political and no military connections and doesn’t seem to be prominent on social media.”

The Survivors’ Struggle

Adam, the couple’s only surviving child, sustained severe injuries, including burns covering over 60% of his body, a nearly severed left arm, and multiple lacerations from shrapnel. He underwent two surgeries and remains in critical condition at Nasser Hospital, reliant on a ventilator. Dr. Alaa, despite her overwhelming loss, has been seen weeping outside Adam’s hospital room while continuing her medical duties. Dr. Hamdi, initially stabilized after undergoing surgeries for brain damage, chest and abdominal bleeding, and shrapnel wounds, was intubated and placed in intensive care. Despite efforts by medical staff, including thoracic surgeon Dr. Abdul Aziz al-Farra, Hamdi’s condition deteriorated, and he passed away on June 1, 2025.

International efforts to evacuate Adam for advanced medical care have been initiated. Italy’s Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, announced on May 30, 2025, that Italy was prepared to receive Adam for treatment, with arrangements underway for his transfer by June 11. The Gisha Legal Center for Freedom of Movement and the World Health Organization have also advocated for Adam’s evacuation, citing the limited medical resources in Gaza. However, transferring Dr. Hamdi was deemed too risky due to his critical condition before his death.

Israel’s Response and International Outcry

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged the airstrike, stating it targeted “a number of suspects” operating from a structure adjacent to IDF troops in Khan Younis, which they described as a “dangerous war zone.” The IDF claimed civilians had been evacuated from the area prior to the strike and said the incident was under review for potential harm to “uninvolved civilians.” However, humanitarian groups have criticized the IDF’s evacuation orders as insufficient, noting that they often lack clear timelines for when it is safe for residents to return.

The attack on the al-Najjar family has sparked widespread condemnation. The Palestinian Ministry of Health described it as part of a “systematic targeting of medical personnel and institutions,” noting that over 1,400 healthcare professionals have been killed in Gaza since October 2023. Hamas called the strike a “horrific massacre,” accusing Israel of deliberately targeting civilians and medical workers. Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, labeled the attack as part of a “distinguishable sadistic pattern” in a “new phase of the genocide” in Gaza. International voices, including the United Kingdom, France, and Canada, condemned Israel’s renewed offensive as “wholly disproportionate,” while UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that Gaza was enduring “the cruelest phase” of the war.

The Broader Context of Gaza’s Crisis

The al-Najjar family’s tragedy is one of many in Gaza, where over 53,900 Palestinians, including 16,503 children, have been killed since the war began on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. The conflict has displaced nearly all of Gaza’s 2 million residents, with over 80% of the territory under Israeli evacuation orders or direct control, leaving civilians confined to just 73 square kilometers. An 11-week Israeli blockade on humanitarian aid, partially lifted in late May 2025, has exacerbated famine risks, with the World Food Programme reporting that 2 million people face “extreme hunger.” Nasser Hospital, where Dr. Alaa works, has received minimal aid due to looting by armed gangs, further straining its capacity to treat patients like Adam.

A Doctor’s Resilience Amid Grief

Despite her profound loss, Dr. Alaa has continued working at Nasser Hospital, a testament to her dedication as a physician. Colleagues describe her as “calm, patient, and filled with faith,” yet devastated, spending hours grieving outside Adam’s room. Dr. Youssef Abu al-Rish, undersecretary of the Palestinian Health Ministry, recounted consoling her as she awaited news of her son’s condition, calling her a “steadfast Palestinian woman” who heals others while bearing her own pain. Her niece, Dr. Suheir al-Najjar, emphasized the cruelty of the strike, noting that the family was targeted despite their humanitarian roles.

A Call for Accountability and Ceasefire

The loss of the al-Najjar family has intensified calls for a ceasefire and accountability. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice. The international community, including the Red Cross, which lost two staff members in a separate Khan Younis strike, has reiterated demands for an end to the “intolerable civilian death toll.”

Dr. Alaa al-Najjar’s story is a stark reminder of the human cost of the Gaza conflict, where even those dedicated to saving lives are not spared its brutality. As she mourns her nine children and husband while tending to her surviving son, her resilience and grief embody the enduring struggle of Gaza’s people. The world watches, with growing urgency, for a resolution to this devastating war.

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