A Palestinian father of ten children remains in critical condition after an Israeli air strike killed nine of his children in Gaza on Friday. Hamdi al-Najjar, husband of Dr. Alaa al-Najjar who works at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, suffered severe injuries and is fighting for his life, according to hospital staff. The couple’s surviving 11-year-old son was also injured but is reported to be stable.
The Israeli military said the incident is under review. The strike is part of ongoing air attacks in Gaza, where the Hamas-run health ministry reported 22 deaths from air strikes on Sunday alone, mostly in central and southern parts of the territory. Hamdi al-Najjar sustained serious injuries to his brain, lungs, right arm, and kidney. Doctors at Nasser Hospital are providing all possible care.
The nine children killed ranged in age from a few months to 12 years old. The children’s names were Yahya, Rakan, Raslan, Gebran, Eve, Rival, Sayden, Luqman, and Sidra. Only Adam, the youngest son, survived among the siblings. Video footage from the scene showed bodies being recovered from the rubble.
The Israeli Defense Forces said their aircraft targeted suspects near troops in the Khan Younis area, describing the zone as dangerous and urging residents to evacuate. On Monday, a large evacuation order was issued for Khan Younis ahead of what was called an “unprecedented attack.” Many Palestinians have not left because they have nowhere safe to go. The United Nations reports that about 81% of Gaza is under evacuation orders or classified as no-go zones.
Since March 18, Israel has resumed air strikes and ground operations that have killed over 3,700 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Israel imposed a total blockade on Gaza from March 2, lasting 11 weeks before limited aid was allowed to enter. Israeli military authorities reported 388 aid trucks entered Gaza since Monday, but the UN says Gaza needs 500 to 600 trucks daily to meet demand.
The World Food Programme said bread distribution stopped on Saturday due to limited supplies and security concerns at bakeries. Some bakery owners decided to close temporarily over safety fears. Hospital staff are working under extreme conditions with limited food and supplies. Some medical workers reported working while hungry, with only small snacks left.
The blockade aims to pressure Hamas to release hostages taken during the October 7 Hamas attack, which killed about 1,200 people and left 251 hostages. Since the conflict began, over 53,900 people, including at least 16,500 children, have died in Gaza.
