In one of the most gut-wrenching tragedies of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, nine children of a Palestinian doctor were killed in an Israeli airstrike while their mother was away saving lives at a nearby clinic. The incident has not only stunned Gaza’s medical community but has also sent shockwaves around the world. As the violence continues to escalate, the story of Dr. Alaa Al-Najjar stands as a heartbreaking symbol of the war’s catastrophic human toll.
Who Is Dr. Alaa Al-Najjar?
Dr. Alaa Al-Najjar is a respected pediatrician who works at the Al Tahrir Clinic, part of the overwhelmed Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Known for her unwavering dedication, Dr. Alaa has treated countless injured children over the past seven months, often under harrowing conditions. On the day of the strike, she was on duty at the clinic when her home was turned into rubble.
A mother of ten, Dr. Alaa represents the courage and resilience of Gaza’s healthcare workers, who continue to work amid bombings, blackouts, and supply shortages. Despite their efforts, her own family would become the latest victims of this brutal war.
The Devastating Airstrike
On the morning of May 22, 2025, an Israeli airstrike targeted the Al-Najjar family home shortly after Dr. Alaa’s husband, Dr. Hamdi Al-Najjar, had returned from dropping her at the clinic. In a matter of moments, the house was destroyed, killing nine of the couple’s ten children. Their ages ranged from just toddlers to early teens.
Graphic footage released by the Hamas-run Palestinian Civil Defence shows the grim rescue effort—tiny bodies pulled lifeless from beneath the rubble. The images have circulated globally, igniting grief, fury, and renewed calls for ceasefire.
A Family Torn Apart
Dr. Alaa’s husband was found alive but critically injured beneath the debris. Only one of their children, an 11-year-old boy, survived the blast. Surgeons at the same hospital where Dr. Alaa worked frantically operated on him, while colleagues tried to support her through the impossible news.
British volunteer doctors at Nasser Hospital said the tragedy has left everyone in shock. “You’re not supposed to operate on your colleague’s dying children,” one medic said, holding back tears. The unbearable grief of this loss is etched into the hospital’s already heavy atmosphere.
Gaza’s Healthcare Heroes Under Fire
Dr. Alaa’s story is not unique. Dozens of medics in Gaza have been killed in airstrikes or gunfire, often while on duty. Hospitals have been bombed, ambulances destroyed, and patients trapped in unsafe zones. For those still working, the psychological burden is almost as heavy as the physical danger.
Despite the chaos, doctors and nurses continue to show up—patching wounds, performing surgeries, and comforting children who’ve lost everything. The world is now forced to confront the impossible conditions these heroes endure.
Rising Civilian Death Toll in Gaza
The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 53,000 since the start of the conflict in October 2023, according to health authorities. UNICEF estimates over 13,000 of the dead are children. The numbers are staggering—and climbing daily.
Women and children account for over 70% of the casualties, a figure that challenges narratives of precision warfare and highlights the toll on civilians caught in the crossfire.
Graphic Footage and International Shock
The footage of Dr. Alaa’s children being pulled from the rubble has fueled a fresh wave of outrage worldwide. Human rights groups are demanding investigations into possible war crimes. Global leaders, including those in the EU and UN, are calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire.
Social media platforms have erupted with tributes, solidarity posts, and calls for justice, using hashtags like #GazaChildren and #JusticeForAlaa.
The Urgent Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
Beyond the bombs, Gaza is grappling with a humanitarian catastrophe. Hospitals are running out of supplies. Electricity is intermittent at best. Water and food are scarce. Over a million people are displaced, living in shelters or sleeping in the open.
International aid convoys are struggling to get in, hampered by blockades, security concerns, and bureaucratic delays. For the people of Gaza, survival is becoming harder with each passing day.
The Global Outcry and Pleas for Action
This tragedy has galvanized global calls for action. The UN has demanded a ceasefire. Humanitarian agencies are urging unrestricted access to Gaza. Protests have erupted in cities around the world—from London to Istanbul to Washington D.C.—with citizens calling for an end to the bloodshed.
Diplomatic efforts are intensifying, but so far, they have yielded few results. Time is running out, especially for Gaza’s most vulnerable: its children.
Conclusion
The story of Dr. Alaa Al-Najjar is one that will haunt this war’s legacy. As a doctor, she gave everything to save lives. As a mother, she lost nearly everything she held dear. Her tragedy is not just a footnote in a geopolitical conflict—it’s a devastating reminder of why peace is urgent, and why the world must not look away.
FAQs
1. Who is Dr. Alaa Al-Najjar and what happened to her?
She is a pediatrician in Gaza who lost nine of her ten children in an Israeli airstrike while she was working at a clinic.
2. How many children were killed in the airstrike?
Nine children were killed, all from the same family. Her husband was critically injured and one son survived.
3. What is the international response to this tragedy?
There has been widespread outrage and grief, with calls for ceasefire and investigations into potential war crimes.
4. What is the current state of Gaza’s health services?
Gaza’s hospitals are overwhelmed, under-resourced, and frequently targeted. Medical professionals are working under extreme conditions.
5. What can be done to help civilians trapped in Gaza?
Increased humanitarian aid, political pressure for a ceasefire, and international advocacy are crucial to protect civilians and restore basic services.
