Israeli Airstrike Kills Nine Children of Gaza Doctor in Khan Younis

An Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis tragically killed nine of the ten children of Palestinian doctors Alaa and Hamdi al-Najjar, leaving only an 11-year-old son severely injured along with the critically wounded father. Dr. Alaa al-Najjar, a pediatrician at Nasser Hospital, was on duty treating other victims when the strike destroyed their family home shortly after Hamdi dropped her off at work. Israel's military stated it targeted militants operating near its forces and described the area as a dangerous war zone, asserting civilian evacuations and reviewing claims of harm to uninvolved civilians. The strike is part of a broader Israeli offensive that has hit over 100 targets across Gaza recently, contributing to a staggering death toll of more than 53,000 since the conflict intensified in October 2023. Gaza's Health Ministry, run by Hamas, reported 79 people killed in the last 24 hours alone, with many hospitals, especially in the north, inaccessible due to bombardments. The devastating loss has drawn pleas from relatives and medical staff for international mercy amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis exacerbated by blockades and limited aid access.