A Gaza doctor's husband and sole surviving child are being treated in a Khan Younis hospital after an Israeli airstrike destroyed her home, claiming the lives of nine of her ten children.
Alaa al-Najjar, a pediatrician, and her husband, a surgeon, who have dedicated their lives to saving others, now find themselves trapped in unimaginable grief, with her husband in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Nasser Hospital, where both have tirelessly worked to heal others.
"Dr. Alaa lost most of her children, about seven. Only one child remains. Her husband is also in the intensive care unit, hovering between life and death. We pray that God gives her strength. She is enduring what no human being should ever have to endure," said Abdul Raouf al-Atrash, head of ICU at the Nasser Hospital.
The Israeli airstrike on Friday leveled her home the east of Khan Younis city near Rafah town in southern Gaza Strip, killing seven children and leaving two trapped under the rubble of their home, who were presumed dead.
Ali al-Najjar, her brother-in-law, described the horrifying scene, recounting the frantic attempts to find survivors beneath the rubble.
"We tried searching under the rubble to see if anyone was still alive. I called out for Jubran and the others, but no one answered. There were ten children in total, nine were missing, and Adam, the tenth was with me. I called out to all the children, but no one responded. At the same time, the scene I witnessed was beyond words. From what I understand, houses usually scatter when they're bombed, but this house was crushed down on itself, all in one pile," said Ali al-Najjar.
The Israeli military claimed that the strike happened in a red zone, a zone for Israel's ongoing operations that are going intensively over the past several days in the eastern part in Khan Younis and Rafah. It also said that the killing of those children is being now reviewed.
Gaza's Media Office said Israel effectively controls 77 percent of the Gaza Strip through ongoing military operations, causing mass displacement.
Gaza's Civil Defense authorities also reported 34 Palestinian deaths by Israeli attacks on Sunday.
Gaza doctor loses 9 of 10 children in Israeli strikes, husband in intensive care
Gaza doctor loses 9 of 10 children in Israeli strikes, husband in intensive care
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
