August 14th 2024.
Mohammad Abu Al Qumsan was in a state of shock and disbelief. His body trembled as he struggled to comprehend the news that he had just received. With tears in his eyes, he fell to the ground in the courtyard of Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza.
Desperately, he pleaded with the health officials at the facility to let him see his family. He begged for a chance to see his newborn twins, Aysal and Aser, who had been born just three days ago. But his cries fell on deaf ears as the officials informed him of the tragic news.
Earlier that day, Mohammad had left his home in Deir al-Balah to collect birth certificates for his twin babies. Little did he know that his world would come crashing down in just a matter of hours. He received a call informing him that an Israeli strike had hit his home, killing his wife Jumana and their two babies.
Heart-wrenching footage captured by a freelance journalist for CNN showed the devastated father surrounded by mourners at the hospital. Men tried to comfort him as he lay there, his forehead being gently stroked. In another scene, Mohammad was seen kneeling beside the shrouded bodies of his loved ones, performing Islamic funeral prayers with a group of worshippers.
Jumana, a pharmacist, and the twin babies were among the 23 people killed in the Israeli strikes, including a nine-month-old baby. CNN reached out to the Israel Defense Forces for comment on the strike, but no response has been received yet.
One imam at the funeral said, "May God unite you together in paradise my dear. I swear to God you will be reunited with them in paradise and be with them forever."
Mohammad shared with CNN that he had moved his family to Deir al-Balah in an attempt to protect them from the relentless bombing campaign by Israel. Just days before the tragic incident, Jumana had posted on Facebook, celebrating the birth of her twin babies and calling them a "miracle." The couple had only gotten married in July of 2023, before the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
The war, which began in October of that year, has taken a toll on both sides. Israeli authorities report that at least 1,200 people have been killed and more than 250 abducted. On the other hand, Israeli attacks have killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians, including over 16,400 children and newborns, and injured more than 92,000 others.
Mohammad is just one of the many survivors who have no time to grieve for their loved ones amidst the ongoing war. The 10-month offensive has killed entire families, worsened the already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and left cities in ruins. According to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, at least 1.9 million people have been displaced, and the entire population of over 2.2 million is at risk of famine and disease.
Relief workers are struggling to provide aid to the people of Gaza due to Israeli aid restrictions. Meanwhile, the healthcare system has been decimated by the constant attacks, making it difficult for health authorities to treat the wounded. According to the Ministry of Health, over 885 health workers have been killed, and less than half of the strip's hospitals are functioning partially.
UNICEF has described the war in Gaza as "unrelenting" and has estimated that there are at least 17,000 unaccompanied or separated children in the region. Salim Oweis, a communications officer for UNICEF, stated that the footage seen on television only scratches the surface of the immense suffering and destruction that the people of Gaza have endured for over 10 months. He added that behind the crumbled buildings, entire neighborhoods, livelihoods, and dreams have been destroyed.
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