In a heartbreaking incident, Iman al-Nouri's life changed forever when two of her sons were killed by an Israeli airstrike on Thursday while they were waiting for aid. The family was at the Altayara health clinic in central Gaza, desperate for nutritional supplements as food scarcity continues to grip the area.
Iman’s youngest son, two-year-old Siraj, was crying from hunger and accompanied by his cousins and brothers when tragedy struck. All four children were sitting outside the clinic when the airstrike occurred, reportedly targeting a Hamas operative nearby. In the chaos that followed, five-year-old Amir was killed instantly, and 14-year-old Sama also succumbed to injuries later. The remaining two boys, Omar, aged nine, and Siraj, ended up with severe wounds.
"I heard the explosion and rushed out to find my children,” Iman recounted, her voice trembling with grief. “They had hopes, dreams. Why are they gone? They were just kids." Siraj’s health condition deteriorated rapidly, with doctors unable to provide treatment as he struggled for breath with severe head injuries.
Dr. Mithqal Abutaha from Project Hope verified that many families were present looking to access basic health services when the strike occurred. Eyewitness accounts and CCTV footage of the attack reveal a tragic scene, where children and women gathered for care were caught in violence. In total, reports indicated that 16 people, including 10 children, lost their lives in this incident.
As humanitarian conditions deteriorate in Gaza, the United Nations has highlighted alarming rates of malnourished children. The Israeli government continues to navigate a complex military and humanitarian landscape, asserting they aimed at militants while lamenting civilian casualties. Aid organizations like Project Hope have condemned the strike as a violation of international law.
The al-Nouri family highlights the pervasive hunger faced by many in Gaza, leading Iman's husband to risk his safety just to bring back food supplies. Despite calls for ceasefires and aid distribution, families like hers continue to suffer as violence persists, and many innocent lives are lost. In her despair, Iman expressed, "It’s better to go to God than stay with them. May God give me patience."