 "Israeli strike kills 9 children of Gaza doctor couple; 1 survivor is critical")
Gaza’s civil defence said on Saturday that an Israeli strike in Khan Yunis killed nine children of a married doctor couple. The Israeli army said it is checking the reports.
Israel has increased its attacks in Gaza recently, facing criticism and demands to allow more aid after partially easing a blockade that started on March 2.
Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said they recovered the bodies of nine children, some burned, from the home of Dr Hamdi al-Najjar and his wife, Dr Alaa al-Najjar.
He added that Hamdi al-Najjar and another son, Adam, were also seriously wounded in the strike on Friday, and that the family was taken to Nasser Hospital. A medical source at the hospital gave Adam’s age as 10 years old.
Muneer Alboursh, director general of the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, said on X that the strike happened shortly after Hamdi Al-Najjar returned home from driving his wife, a paediatric specialist, to work at the same facility.
“This is the reality our medical staff in Gaza endure. Words fall short in describing the pain,” he said, accusing Israel of “wiping out entire families”.
Footage of the aftermath released by the civil defence agency showed rescuers recovering badly burned remains from the damaged home.
Asked about the incident, the Israeli military said it had “struck a number of suspects who were identified operating from a structure” near its troops.
“The Khan Yunis area is a dangerous warzone,” it added.
“The claim regarding harm to uninvolved civilians is under review.”
The army had issued an evacuation warning for the city on Monday.
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