An 11-year-old boy, Adam al-Najjar, who tragically lost his father and nine siblings in an Israeli air strike last month, is traveling to Italy for much-needed medical treatment. Accompanied by his mother, Dr. Alaa al-Najjar, the pair were set to depart for Milan on Wednesday evening, as confirmed by Italy's foreign ministry.
The heart-wrenching incident occurred on May 23 when their family home in Khan Younis was struck. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged the attack is under review. Dr. Alaa reported that Adam's condition was stable but detailed significant injuries to his left arm, which has suffered fractured bones and nerve damage.
Video footage shared online showed the young survivor and his mother boarding a Red Crescent ambulance, offering a hopeful wave goodbye as they left Gaza. Adam, along with 17 other injured Palestinians and their relatives, was to cross into Israel before being flown to various cities in Italy via chartered flights organized by the Italian Air Force.
This evacuation marks an effort to extend assistance, with 150 Palestinian patients, alongside more than 450 family members, having been flown to Italy for medical care since the crisis began. Tragically, Adam's father, Dr. Hamdi al-Najjar, succumbed to injuries from the attack just days after the airstrike.
Upon his arrival at the hospital, Adam was described by a British surgeon as facing severe injuries, with a "left arm just about hanging off" and multiple lacerations. In the wake of ongoing conflict, the IDF stated that the area was designated a combat zone and claimed steps were taken to avoid civilian casualties, a narrative that is being scrutinized amidst rising civilian death tolls in Gaza.
As the Israel-Hamas conflict escalates, civilian casualties have surged, with Hamas-run health ministry reporting over 54,981 deaths in Gaza. Adam's heartbreaking story highlights the plight of the innocent amid war, drawing urgent calls for a reassessment of conduct regarding civilian safety and humanitarian assistance.
