In a heartbreaking incident in Gaza, doctors successfully delivered a baby girl as her mother tragically succumbed to injuries from an Israeli airstrike in Rafah. The father and four-year-old sister of the baby also lost their lives in the attack.
The mother, Sabreen, was 30 weeks pregnant when the rescue teams found her. Doctors at the Kuwaiti hospital where they were taken performed an emergency cesarean section to save the baby’s life.
Dr. Mohammad Salameh, head of the neonatal intensive care unit at the Emirates Maternity Hospital, described the baby’s critical condition due to premature birth, resulting in severe respiratory distress. The infant was transferred to the Tal Al-Sultan Hospital’s nursery for ongoing care and was expected to remain hospitalized for several weeks.
Despite the grim circumstances, the baby girl, named after her late mother, faced the world as an orphan. She currently rests in an incubator at Rafah hospital, identified as “The Baby of Martyr Sabreen Al-Sakani” on a ribbon across her chest.
The child’s paternal grandmother, Mirvat al-Sakani, vowed to care for her, demonstrating resilience and solidarity in the face of immense loss.
Tragically, the airstrike in Rafah claimed the lives of 19 individuals, including 13 children from a single family, in two homes. This devastating event underscores the toll of conflict on innocent lives, with Palestinian health officials noting that a significant number of casualties in Gaza have been children and women.
The displacement of nearly 1.5 million individuals in Rafah due to Israeli bombings paints a stark picture of the ongoing crisis. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement of a planned ground offensive in Rafah adds to the gravity of the situation, raising concerns for civilian safety amidst escalating tensions.
This narrative exemplifies the harsh realities of war, emphasizing the vulnerability of children amidst violence. However, amidst the sorrow, there is a glimmer of hope in the form of community support and solidarity, as seen in the grandmother’s commitment to caring for the little survivor. It’s a poignant story that evokes both despair and optimism amid a backdrop of suffering and destruction.