Heartbreaking news report from Gaza - Dr receives bodies of her children

[Applenation]

Many of you will already have read about this. Paediatric specialist Dr Alaa al-Najjar was on duty when the bodies of nine of her 10 children were received by her in the hospital, after a strike in Khan Younis hit her home.

This report just stopped me in my tracks. I don't know what to say beyond this. I cannot stop thinking about this poor woman tonight.

er children killed by a strike in Khan Younis. Guardian link

Powerful speech on the deaths of Palestinian children by Ms Rachel! Such an inspirational person and such a great role model for our kids!
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https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKRuWn9upkx/?igsh=MW55ZXZibDRpeHRwcw==

Unicef report that there are now more than 50,000 children dead and injured in Gaza! Since the end of the ceasefire in March, a further 1,309 children have been killed and 3,738 injured!

Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa said:

“These children – lives that should never be reduced to numbers – are now part of a long, harrowing list of unimaginable horrors: the grave violations against children, the blockade of aid, the starvation, the constant forced displacement, and the destruction of hospitals, water systems, schools, and homes. In essence, the destruction of life itself in the Gaza Strip.

Since the end of the ceasefire on March 18, 1,309 children have reportedly been killed and 3,738 injured. In total, more than 50,000 children have reportedly been killed or injured since October 2023. How many more dead girls and boys will it take? What level of horror must be livestreamed before the international community fully steps up, uses its influence, and takes bold, decisive action to force the end of this ruthless killing of children?”

https://www.unicefusa.org/press/unimaginable-horrors-more-50000-children-reportedly-killed-or-injured-gaza-strip

The economist are reporting that the death toll
is likely much higher than reported figures. They have explained how the death toll only includes people who have been identified and as thousands have not been recovered from the rubble they are not included in the official data. They estimate that the death toll is likely much higher than reported and could be as high as between 78,000 and 112,000. This accounts for approximately 1 in 20 of Gaza’s pre war inhabitants dead. They also explain the death toll only includes people killed by bombs and bullets, it does not include people who have died from malnutrition or from health conditions caused by the blockade.

“The researchers found that the overlap was so small that the true number of deaths was probably 46-107% higher than the official ministry total. If you assume that the ratio has stayed the same since last June (and not fallen, as systems caught up during the ceasefire, say) and apply them to the current tally, it would suggest that between 77,000 and 109,000 Gazans have been killed, 4-5% of the territory’s pre-war population.”

https://www.economist.com/interactive/middle-east-and-africa/2025/05/08/how-many-people-have-died-in-gaza

I just read her husband has died. The poor woman. How can she survive all this?

I also saw a video on Instagram today of a woman carrying a baby who was shot. She is walking along and next thing, shot, collapses. Unfortunately I can't link without doxing myself as I explained already but it should be quite possible to be found with a simple search. I know this has been questioned so I will try my best to alert these to those interested.

Another thing I heard today in an interview is that all civilian hostages have been returned to Israel by Hamas. So the hostages that are remaining are soldiers.

This is a war and I guess soldiers can't just return to home for tea and expect to be suddenly not a target especially as there is such blurring between military and civilians

Don't all Israelis have military training and serve in the army at some point? By your logic all Israeli adults are legitimate targets, and if they're still targets when they're 'home for tea' then their families are legitimate targets too.

Incidentally - I'm disgusted by the pro Israeli propagandists on this thread. That genocide is Israel's aim is beyond doubt. They clearly see no other solution than to drive Arabs out of the Gaza Strip.

On October the 7th Hamas were really considerate in determining legitimate military targets 🙅

War is a horrible thing

www.hadassahmagazine.org/2024/06/28/the-tragic-fate-of-israels-female-observer-soldiers/

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/28/world/middleeast/oct-7-attacks-hamas-israel-sexual-violence.html

If you can please read this and maybe understand that the Israel and the IDF want to send everyone of the b%states that committed these crimes to another (hopefully hotter) world. There is concern about civilian death in Gaza but no one has said how the perpetrators of October 7th can be brought to justice when they systematically hide in populated houses and hospitals?

It is obvious a Hamas tactic (possibly their only one given their massive military disadvabtage) to take insurgency action and quickly move into houses populated by civilians. I suppose they know even if they did it will not be vain as the civilians liked by the cowards actions add to Hamas propaganda war effort.

Can someone tell me therefore how Israel should persecute this war with minimal civilian casualties where human shields is a primary tactic of the enemy. Should the IDF ask nicely that they leave their houses as women could be hurt?

I think if you once again reflect on October 7th and the tactics of Hamas another perspective arises from the genocide narrative so many are desperate to push.

Sorry that was bastard as a typo. Apologies for the course language but if anyone has a better term then please use it.

@mids2019

Do you believe the actions of October 7th justify every aspect of the current military offensive and aid blockage?

Fresh headline this morning: Israel has killed 20 Palestinians who were queuing for food aid. Gunned them down.

This casual targeting of civilians constitutes a war crime.

There would be no shrugged shoulders and 'war is horrible, oh well' if Israelis were being routinely slaughtered like this.

Oh wait, my bad. It wasn't 20, it was at least 26. Details:

At least 26 people have been killed, and scores have been injured, near a US-backed aid distribution site near Gaza's southern city of Rafah, according to medics and residents.

A local Palestinian journalist told the BBC that thousands of Palestinians had gathered near a humanitarian aid distribution centre when Israeli tanks approached and opened fire on the crowd.

But yeah 'war is horrible, oh well' and October 7th justifies anything. Never mind that October 7th itself was the result of many decades of mistreatment and injustice. Keep acting like it came out of nowhere and therefore any reaction is justified.

I just heard on news the figure is gone up to 30 people killed in Israeli attack near the aid distribution centre.

On the hospitals, bombing hospitals is a war crime. Full stop.

I also saw an interview with an Israeli minister recently (British interviewer) where the minister was questioned over the rationale (that Hamas was using an underground bunker beneath a hospital) for bombing such hospital - turns out such a bunker did not exist.

On the bombing houses. Bombing houses is a war crime. Full stop.

However, let's pause for a moment to remember that Israel has "requested" that people leave their houses and they're now living in tents. Israel has bombed these tents.

How do we know the Palestinians killed near the food station weren't armed and presented a clear and prenatal. danger to staff? I think some of the looters that ransacked warehouses were armed. Maybe more facts will be forthcomong.

And these people were fired on from a tank.

Not sure what danger armed civilians could present to a tank. Also not sure what kind of arms people could carry on a reduced frame due to malnutrition, and considering they would be carrying their green Gaza ID card and bags and boxes to carry the food they thought they might get. And supporting children and elderly people to get there. Including carrying babies, which was such a risk to Israeli safety that a woman was shot in the last few days in just this position.

As an aside I learned yesterday that Palestinians have different types of ID cards depending on where they were born, which means some married couples can't live together, they have limitations on movement etc. these ID status determine their level of rights.
I never knew this before.

@mids2019 You are correct I believe in stating that the actions of the Israeli government and IDF are motivated largely by a desire for revenge.
They cannot kill every last penny pusher in the entire Hamas led administration - every tax clerk, every traffic policeman, every fixer of pot holes , every teenager who gave a thumbs up to a social media post, without putting the civilians into concentration camps and sealing off the enclave. So this is what has started now- displacement into concentration camps in the hope that “voluntary” immigration will follow.
Is this self defence? I think not.
The IDF had sufficient intelligence to know that these 9 children were at home- it was their family home over the shop and in “self defence” it burned these children alive, blew their brother and father up leaving them with life changing injuries. Yet their mum has not called for revenge. As their dad lies in a hospital bed, their uncle says he does not want revenge on the Jewish people .

The GHF are providing good though that is undeniable which is needed. I think there is an interesting legal argument whether aid needs to be delivered by the UN or US/Israel. It is hard to argue that if people are hungry carrying boxes of food away is a good thing.

Also - and forgive me if I'm incorrect - but I think the default position for humanitarian aid is that everyone in need is to be given it - bit like the Hippocratic oath, you provide care.
Also didn't Israel say that it needed this new humanitarian agency because only IT could determine who was connected to Hamas, but it turns out now this is not the case and it needs to fire into civilians for it's protection. Right.

You're right. People getting aid is the most important thing. Please God people will get aid they need.

The IDF had sufficient intelligence to know that these 9 children were at home- it was their family home over the shop and in “self defence” it burned these children alive, blew their brother and father up leaving them with life changing injuries. Yet their mum has not called for revenge. As their dad lies in a hospital bed, their uncle says he does not want revenge on the Jewish people.

This. They're not bombing 'blind'; they have sufficient intelligence that they would know this was a house with ten children and two doctors. It's just unspeakable. I thought they supposedly provided warnings and dropped dummy bombs before the real ones anyway? Tbh that narrative is now frayed beyond credulity. Apparently the husband has now died, too.

He has yes. I heard also that Italy has offered medical care for Adam the last remaining child. If he's stable enough to leave and gets permission to leave.

It turns out that there is literally nothing that Israel can do that would see the most ardent of MN supporters criticise them.

Unfortunately you will have to be mindful what you write or agree with on this thread, many people have found themselves to have been completely wiped off MN without any explanations. Go figure. You just have to be supine and agree the narrative of 'Self defence' or face explosion without a message, email or any recourse. #Democracy
#Groupthink #WarIsPeace

The rules on MN about why posts get deleted are actually pretty clear and fair. On this board, most of the posts that have got deleted I would guess are because of personal attacks or hate speech.

Too many post deletions lead to a person getting banned from the website.

Debate politely or at least non aggressively and people can express opinions on the actions of both sides in the war as much as they want to without getting "wiped off MN"

The IDF has categorically denied any involvement in the alleged incident. If it happened, it was probably Hamas.

Hospitals lose their protection if they are used for military purposes. The leader of Hamas was recently killed when Israel bombed the grounds of the European Hospital where he had a base. Hamas's actions in building these bases intentionally and recklessly endanger Palestinians. They know that people will blame Israel regardless.

So who was the terrorist that was so high ranking that the IDF felt forced to sacrifice the lives of 9 innocent children. What is his name? Of what crimes is he guilty? Did they get more than one? Why haven’t they released the details of outcome of what they obviously claim is a targeted attack? The parents are not Hamas ( like 10 kids, work, clinic pharmacy we’re expected to believe they had a side line in terrorism?)