After losing their three children in an Israeli attack on their home in Gaza City last year, Diana and Omar Al-Rubai tragically perished in an airstrike last week, just days before their expected new baby’s arrival. Despite the devastating loss, medical teams made efforts to save Diana, but she passed away shortly after the strike. An emergency C-section was performed to deliver the baby, named Hamza, a name chosen by his late father who eagerly anticipated his son’s birth.
Baby Hamza faced challenges upon arrival at Al-Helou International Hospital due to oxygen deficiency resulting from his mother’s critical condition and cardiac arrest while he was in the womb. However, Dr. Ziad Al-Masry, a pediatrician at the hospital, mentioned that the baby is currently in relatively good health and is anticipated to be discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) soon.
Dr. Al-Masry highlighted that similar cases to Hamza’s have been observed, with expectant mothers like Diana being impacted by airstrikes in the final stages of their pregnancies, necessitating intensive care for the premature babies. The Health Ministry in Gaza has issued appeals to safeguard the city’s hospitals to prevent a humanitarian crisis endangering numerous patients and casualties.
The Al-Rubai family, who had been residing in a makeshift shelter near Al-Shifa Hospital following the destruction of their home in a previous airstrike, faced another tragedy with the recent loss of Diana and Omar. The ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza has resulted in a significant death toll and widespread destruction, prompting UNICEF to report that thousands of children have been killed or injured during the conflict.
Residents of Gaza City have been urged to evacuate amid escalating bombings, with Israeli forces expanding their operations within the city. The situation remains tense as ceasefire efforts face challenges, and the recent targeting of Hamas negotiators in Qatar has heightened concerns about further military escalation in the region. The conflict, stemming from a Hamas-led attack on Israeli communities in 2023, has led to extensive casualties and ongoing hostilities.