The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said its “aircraft struck a number of suspects who were identified operating from a structure adjacent to IDF troops in the area of Khan Younis” on 24 May. Among those killed were nine of Dr Alaa al-Najjar’s ten children. Her tenth child and her husband were gravely wounded.

According to a BBC report, the Israeli military said: “The Khan Younis area is a dangerous war zone. Before beginning operations there, the IDF evacuated civilians from this area for their own safety”.

The IDF struck more than 100 targets across Gaza and the Hamas-run health ministry said at least 74 people had been killed by the Israeli military over the 24 hour-period leading up to about midday on that day.

Dr Muneer Alboursh, director of the health ministry, said on X that the al-Najjars’ family house was hit minutes after Dr al-Najjar’s husband Hamdi had returned home after driving his wife to work.

In an interview recorded by AFP news agency, relative Youssef al-Najjar said: “Enough! Have mercy on us! We plead to all countries, the international community, the people, Hamas, and all factions to have mercy on us. We are exhausted from the displacement and the hunger, enough!”

Israel launched this military campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas’s cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

At least 53,901 people, including at least 16,500 children, have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s health ministry.