Palestinian Families Suffering Under Continuous Israeli Attacks in Gaza

In the central Gaza Strip, at al-Aqsa Hospital, lies Hanan al-Doqi, a young Palestinian child from Deir al-Balah, battling for her life. Hanan was critically injured in an Israeli military attack on her family’s home on September 3rd, which resulted in the death of her mother, Shimaa, and severe injuries to Hanan, her sister, and their father. This tragic incident occurred only hours after Hanan and her sister were vaccinated against polio following a polio outbreak in the area.

Hanan has suffered grievous injuries, including second-degree burns on her right cheek, amputation of both legs, and loss of a portion of her intestines. Her younger sister, Misk, also suffered the loss of her left foot. Their father remains in intensive care with injuries that threaten his life.

Shifa al-Doqi, the sisters’ aunt, expressed the devastating impact these events have on the family. “It is too hard for the two poor children to lose their parents,” she told news agency Xinhua. She described the heartbreaking scene of the two girls calling out for their mother and father, grappling with the reality of their loss and injuries.

This assault is part of a larger Israeli offensive targeting Hamas in the Gaza Strip, triggered by a violent incident on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants stormed through the southern Israeli border, leading to the deaths of around 1,200 people and the kidnapping of approximately 250 individuals.

The ongoing conflict has resulted in severe destruction across Gaza, with health authorities reporting over 41,000 Palestinian deaths and over 95,000 injuries. Repeated calls by the international community to halt these attacks have not led to a cessation, leaving Gazans under continuous threat.

According to United Nations estimates from July, about 1.9 million people, or nine out of ten residents in Gaza, have been displaced by the ongoing violence.

On September 8th, another tragic incident occurred when the Abu Otaiwi family’s home in the al-Nuseirat refugee camp was hit by an Israeli attack, killing seven-year-old Asmaa Abu Otaiwi just two days after her polio vaccination.

Mohammed Abu Otaiwi, Asmaa’s father, criticized the relentless bombardments. He spoke of his futile efforts to shield his family by frequently relocating within Gaza. “But I failed to keep my children alive,” he lamented, recalling Asmaa’s dreams of returning to school and to her friends.

In the climate of bereavement and anger, he questioned why innocent children are suffering the consequences of conflict and criticized the silence of human rights organizations on the plight of Gaza’s children. “Why do our children have to pay the price for this war?” he implored, accusing the international community of turning a blind eye to the suffering in Gaza.