• Dr. Hamdi al-Najjar died from injuries sustained during an Israeli airstrike that killed nine of his children.
• His wife, Alaa, and their surviving son Adam are the only family members left.
• The Israeli military claimed the strike targeted combatants, but many civilians were affected.

Dr. Hamdi al-Najjar, a Palestinian doctor, succumbed to injuries sustained during an Israeli airstrike on May 23 that also resulted in the deaths of nine of his children. Local health officials reported that the attack occurred shortly after he returned home from dropping off his wife, fellow doctor Alaa al-Najjar, at Nasser Hospital, where they both worked. The couple's sole remaining family members are their 11-year-old son, Adam, who was also injured, and Alaa, who has faced the unbearable tragedy of losing her children, according to TRT World and Middle East Eye.

The devastating airstrike significantly impacted their family, causing severe injuries to Dr. Hamdi and killing nine of their children, whose bodies were reportedly "burned beyond recognition." Alaa had just been attending to other victims of the bombardments at the hospital when she received the news of her family's fate. She was forced to confront the horrific reality of her situation as she treated the gravely injured members of her own family, according to BBC and Middle East Eye.

According to health officials, Dr. Hamdi suffered critical brain and internal injuries and remained in intensive care until his death. His tragic passing highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 54,000 Palestinians have reportedly died due to Israeli military actions since October 2023, including a significant number of medical professionals, as reported by Middle East Eye and TRT World.

This incident has drawn international attention and stark criticism towards the Israeli military operations, particularly the impact on civilians and the healthcare system. The International Criminal Court has initiated investigations into alleged war crimes, with a specific focus on the targeting of civilian infrastructure and personnel, which has been described as a systematic approach to inflict suffering, according to Middle East Eye and TRT World.