A Palestinian father is fighting for his life in intensive care after an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza killed nine of his children, according to Palestinian health officials and eyewitnesses. The attack, which took place on May 25, 2025, is among the deadliest single-family tragedies reported in the latest phase of Israel’s military campaign.
The strike targeted a residential building in the Nuseirat refugee camp, where the family was sheltering amid ongoing bombardments. The children’s mother was also reportedly killed, along with other relatives. Video footage from the scene showed rescue workers digging through rubble with their hands, pulling out the bodies of children wrapped in dust-covered blankets.
“They were sleeping when the missile hit,” said a neighbor. “There was no warning.”
🧒 Civilian Toll Mounts
The deaths add to the rapidly growing civilian death toll in Gaza, which has now exceeded 35,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Over half of the dead are reported to be women and children. Human rights groups and UN officials have described the situation as a humanitarian catastrophe, citing indiscriminate strikes and the destruction of homes, schools, and hospitals.
Israel’s military said it was targeting a Hamas command post in the area but did not confirm whether militants were present in the building struck. A spokesperson claimed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are reviewing the incident but maintained that Hamas bears responsibility for operating in civilian areas.
“This is not self-defense — this is collective punishment,” said a spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent.
💬 Grief and Global Condemnation
The story of the children’s deaths has sparked international outrage, with calls for immediate action from humanitarian organizations and diplomats. In capitals across Europe and the Middle East, protestors held vigils and marches condemning the strike and demanding a ceasefire.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the killing of civilians “morally indefensible” and renewed his appeal for an immediate humanitarian truce.
“Gaza is not just a battlefield — it is home to millions,” Guterres said. “No child should die in their sleep under falling bombs.”
🏥 Hospitals Overwhelmed
The father, now in intensive care at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, is one of hundreds of critically wounded patients being treated under dire medical conditions. Hospitals across Gaza are overwhelmed, under-supplied, and operating without reliable electricity or water.
Doctors say they are being forced to make impossible choices due to shortages of medication, staff, and equipment. Several patients have died in recent days due to lack of oxygen and delayed surgeries.
🌍 What to Watch
- Possible UN Security Council emergency session
- International legal response from human rights courts or the ICC
- Further escalation or retaliation by armed groups in Gaza
- Impact on ceasefire negotiations led by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S.
- Regional diplomatic fallout, especially in Jordan, Turkey, and Lebanon
This tragedy has become a symbol of the intensifying cost of the war on Gaza’s civilian population. As diplomatic efforts falter and bombs continue to fall, families like the one in Nuseirat are being erased in an instant — with the world watching, and too often, doing nothing.
Source; Reuters
