Grief in Gaza: Mother Mourns Sons Lost in Strike While Seeking Aid

In a devastating turn of events in Gaza, a mother’s heart-wrenching plea echoes through the ongoing conflict as she mourns the loss of her two young sons, killed in what is described as an Israeli strike. Iman al-Nouri, a mother of five, recounts the horrific incident that claimed the lives of her sons, five-year-old Amir and two-year-old Siraj, while they were waiting with their cousin Sama and elder brother Omar at a local health clinic for nutritional supplements.

The tragic incident occurred on Thursday morning outside the Altayara health clinic in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza. Iman al-Nouri explained that her youngest son, Siraj, had woken up crying from hunger, prompting his 14-year-old cousin, Sama, to accompany Siraj and his brothers, Omar (9) and Amir (5), to the clinic. They were seated on the pavement, waiting for the clinic to open, when the strike hit.

Iman’s desperate search for her children led her to the scene, where she discovered a harrowing reality: her sons and niece were among the casualties. Amir and Sama were killed instantly. Omar, though critically wounded, was still alive. In a poignant and gut-wrenching account, Iman described the agonizing efforts to save Omar. “Omar still had some breath in him. They tried to revive him,” she recalled. “Omar needed blood, and it took them an hour to get it. They gave it to him, but it was in vain.”

The emotional toll on Iman is palpable as she questions the senseless loss of her children. “Why are they gone? Why? What did they do wrong?” she asked, her voice thick with grief. “They had dreams just like any other children in the world. If you gave them a small toy, they’d be so happy. They were just kids.”

Little Siraj, the two-year-old who had initially asked for supplements, survived the blast but sustained severe injuries. Iman described her youngest son’s critical condition: “Siraj’s head was bleeding and he had lost an eye – an image that she cannot now get out of her head.” She added, “He had fractures in his skull and… according to the doctor, not just bleeding, but [a major haemorrhage] on his brain. How long can he stay like this, living on oxygen? Two are already gone. If only he could help me hold on a little longer.” Tragically, doctors have informed Iman that they are unable to treat Siraj due to the severity of his injuries, leaving him in a critical but stable condition, reliant on oxygen.

The strike, which occurred around 07:15, has been described by a spokesperson for the US-based aid group Project Hope, which runs the Altayara clinic, as a “blatant violation of international humanitarian law, and a stark reminder that no one and no place is safe in Gaza.” Dr. Mithqal Abutaha, who spoke to the BBC, expressed his profound distress, noting that 16 people were killed in the attack, including 10 children and three women. He lamented the loss of life at a place where people were seeking basic necessities, questioning the Israeli military’s statement of regret, as it “cannot bring those patients, those beneficiaries back alive.” He emphasized that the clinic is a UN-recognized, “deconflicted humanitarian facility,” where such an attack should never have occurred.

The aftermath of the strike, captured in graphic detail, shows numerous casualties, including children, lying on the ground, with makeshift arrangements like a donkey cart being used for transport due to a lack of ambulances. The situation highlights the severe shortage of essential resources in Gaza, exacerbated by Israel’s blockade of aid deliveries. Iman shared the daily struggle for survival, mentioning her husband’s perilous journeys to secure basic necessities like flour for their children, who often cried from hunger.

Despite a partial easing of the blockade in late May, widespread shortages of food, medicine, and fuel persist. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) reports a growing number of malnourished children, a trend also observed by Project Hope among adults. While efforts have been made to establish new aid distribution systems, there are persistent reports of civilians being killed while seeking food, with the UN human rights office recording hundreds of such fatalities near aid sites and convoys.

Amidst these dire circumstances, discussions of a potential ceasefire continue, offering a glimmer of hope for some. However, for mothers like Iman, whose children have already been lost, these negotiations offer little solace. “Every day they talk about a ceasefire, but where is it?” she questioned, her voice heavy with despair. “They’ve killed us through hunger, through gunfire, through bombs, through air strikes. We’ve died in every possible way. It’s better to go to God than stay with any of them. May God give me patience.” Her words underscore the profound human cost of the ongoing conflict and the desperate yearning for peace.