Gaza welcomes premature babies two years after evacuation and war

Eleven premature babies and their families arrived in the Gaza Strip on Monday evening from Egypt via the Rafah crossing, after more than two years of medical treatment, in a moving humanitarian scene.

Anadolu Agency’s correspondent confirmed that dozens of Palestinians welcomed the babies and their families at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip. Some families were reunited with their children for the first time in two years, after their evacuation under difficult circumstances during the Israeli war.

The babies arrived accompanied by UNICEF staff and underwent necessary medical examinations immediately upon arrival. Their health was reported to be stable, though they are in dire need of specialized care.

A Humanitarian Step

The Gaza Ministry of Health stated that the babies were evacuated due to extremely critical health conditions resulting from the direct targeting of neonatal intensive care units and the forced evacuation of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, in addition to the severe shortage of medical resources and specialized care for newborns.

The statement added that the children’s return “represents a significant humanitarian step following the improvement in their health,” praising “the medical and humanitarian efforts that contributed to saving their lives,” and emphasizing the urgent need to bolster support for the health sector in light of ongoing challenges.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Farra, Director of the Maternity Hospital at Nasser Medical Complex, confirmed that the children were among a group of premature infants evacuated from Al-Shifa Hospital during the raid on it in November 2023. Some of them died during the raid, while others died while receiving treatment in Egypt due to the difficult and dangerous conditions.

Al-Farra noted that the evacuation process was “extremely difficult,” and the children were cared for with rudimentary means due to the complex situation after the Israeli army stormed