Gaza Doctor and Surviving Son to be Evacuated for Medical Treatment in Italy

Dr. Alaa al-Najjar and her son, Adam, prepare for evacuation to Italy after a devastating Israeli strike took their family.

In a poignant turn of events, Dr. Alaa al-Najjar, a Palestinian physician from Khan Younis, is being evacuated to Italy along with her only surviving son, Adam, who is 11 years old. The pair is scheduled to depart for Milan on Wednesday evening, following a recent Israeli airstrike that tragically claimed the lives of Dr. al-Najjar's husband, Dr. Hamdi al-Najjar, and all but one of their nine children. Adam, who sustained serious injuries during the attack, is expected to receive critical medical treatment in Italy.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) previously indicated they were reviewing details surrounding the strike that hit the family’s home on May 23. Footage shared by Palestinian journalists captures the emotional moment as Dr. al-Najjar and Adam were seen boarding a Red Crescent ambulance, waving goodbye as they left Gaza. In an interview prior to their evacuation, Dr. al-Najjar described Adam’s condition, noting the severity of his injuries, particularly in his left arm, where fractures and nerve damage were reported.

Their journey is part of a broader humanitarian effort by the Italian government, which has facilitated the evacuation of 150 Palestinian patients from Gaza, accompanied by over 450 family members. The Italian foreign ministry confirmed that Dr. al-Najjar, Adam, and 17 other injured individuals would first cross into Israel before boarding flights operated by the Italian Air Force.

Tragically, Dr. Hamdi al-Najjar was critically injured during the airstrike just after he dropped his wife off at the hospital where they both worked. He succumbed to his injuries days later. Adam’s injuries were extensive, with doctors remarking how he arrived at the hospital with his left arm nearly severed and multiple lacerations.

The IDF's response to the incident claimed the airstrike targeted individuals suspected of militant activities in what they described as an evacuated combat zone, emphasizing that they are reviewing the report of collateral damage. The recent surge in violence in the region follows Hamas's attacks on October 7, 2023, which resulted in significant Israeli casualties and spurred retaliatory airstrikes that have reportedly killed over 54,981 people in Gaza, according to the local health ministry.