In a devastating incident that underscores the harrowing toll of conflict, a newborn baby defied the odds by surviving a tragic Israeli airstrike that claimed the lives of her mother and sister in Rafah, Gaza.
Sabreen, a young mother in the seventh month of her pregnancy, harbored hopes for her family’s safety amid the ongoing conflict. However, those hopes were shattered on the night of April 20 when an Israeli bomb struck the al-Sakani family home while they slept. Sabreen suffered fatal injuries, while her husband and three-year-old daughter, Malak, tragically lost their lives in the attack.
Remarkably, amidst the rubble and devastation, rescue workers discovered that Sabreen’s unborn baby was still alive in her womb. Rushed to Emirati Hospital in Rafah, doctors performed an emergency Caesarean section to save the child’s life.
Despite being born prematurely and weighing only 1.4 kilograms (3.1 lbs), the baby girl survived the traumatic birth. Dr. Mohammed Salama, head of the hospital’s emergency neo-natal unit, described the infant’s condition as critical but stable, highlighting the challenges associated with her premature birth.
Tragically, Sabreen could not be saved, leaving behind an orphaned child and a grieving family grappling with profound loss. The baby, yet to be named, was adorned with a piece of tape bearing the inscription “the baby of the martyr Sabreen al-Sakani” and placed in an incubator for intensive care.
As the surviving family members gathered at the hospital, grappling with the dual burden of mourning their loved ones and caring for the newborn, they spoke out against the senseless violence that had claimed innocent lives. Sabreen’s grandmother, Mirvat al-Sakani, condemned the injustice of targeting civilians, emphasizing the indiscriminate nature of the violence that has ravaged Gaza.
The tragedy in Rafah is not an isolated incident but emblematic of the broader humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. With tens of thousands killed and countless others displaced since the conflict erupted, the toll on civilian lives, particularly women and children, has been staggering.
Amid mounting international concern, calls for restraint and a renewed push for a ceasefire have intensified. The United States has urged Israel to pursue a targeted approach to avoid exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Rafah and beyond.
As the world watches with bated breath, the plight of baby Sabreen serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of conflict and the urgent need for lasting peace in the region.
