Families Reunited After Years Apart Due to Israeli War Evacuation

Eight Palestinian toddlers who were evacuated from al-Shifa Hospital during Israel’s assault on Gaza in November 2023 have returned to their home country after more than two years of separation. The children, along with three relatives and two medical staff, arrived in Rafah on Monday as part of a humanitarian mission organized by the Palestine Red Crescent Society.

The toddlers were among a group of at least 25 babies born prematurely and evacuated from al-Shifa Hospital due to Israeli forces’ storming of the medical complex. The children received treatment outside Gaza before being returned home.

Their families had been waiting for weeks and months to learn about their babies’ survival, with some parents experiencing severe pain and complications during pregnancy. Doctors at Emirati Hospital reported shortages in medicine, including antibiotics and food, which were banned from reaching al-Shifa medical complex due to the Israeli siege.

The toddlers’ return comes amid ongoing violence in Gaza, with more than 72,200 people killed since the war began in October 2023. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, Israeli attacks on the coastal territory have continued on a near-daily basis, killing over 700 Palestinians and injuring many more.

On Tuesday, two Palestinians were wounded by Israeli forces east of the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, according to local medical sources quoted by Palestinian news agency Wafa. The Palestine Red Crescent Society has been involved in humanitarian missions to return the toddlers to their families, who had been separated from them for an extended period.

Source: Al Jazeera