In a tragic turn of events, an Israeli airstrike in the southernmost city of Rafah in Gaza has claimed the lives of a pregnant woman, her husband, and their 4-year-old daughter. The devastating incident occurred shortly before midnight on Saturday, leaving the family shattered and the community in mourning.

Sabreen Jouda, the unborn child of the deceased woman, Sabreen al-Sakani, miraculously survived the attack. Emergency responders at the Kuwaiti hospital where the bodies were taken swiftly performed an emergency cesarean section to give this premature baby a fighting chance at life.

Little Sabreen was in critical condition after the attack, struggling to breathe. Medical workers tirelessly worked to stabilize her, carefully providing her with the necessary care. In the neighboring Emirati hospital's neonatal intensive care unit, the tiny infant was placed in an incubator, wearing a diaper too large for her fragile body. Her identity was marked on her chest with a piece of tape that read, "The martyr Sabreen al-Sakani's baby."

Dr. Mohammad Salameh, the head of the neonatal unit, expressed cautious optimism about Sabreen's health, noting that there has been some progress. However, he emphasized that her condition remains precarious due to her premature birth under such tragic circumstances. Dr. Salameh described her as a premature orphan girl, highlighting the heartbreaking reality she faces.

Amid the heart-wrenching loss, Ahalam al-Kurdi, Sabreen's paternal grandmother, expressed her determination to care for the infant. She affectionately referred to the baby as the daughter of her dear son, vowing to provide loving support. Overwhelmed with grief, Al-Kurdi clutched her chest and rocked back and forth, mourning the loss of her son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter.

The devastating airstrike in Rafah is yet another tragic chapter in the ongoing violence in Gaza. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, over two-thirds of the more than 34,000 Palestinians killed since the start of this war have been children and women. This grim statistic highlights the vulnerable position faced by the civilian population in the midst of the conflict.

Further adding to the anguish, another Israeli airstrike in Rafah overnight resulted in the deaths of 17 children and two women from an extended family. Mirvat al-Sakani, Sabreen's maternal grandmother, voiced her anguish and confusion, mourning the loss of her son and expressing frustration over the seemingly random targeting of innocent civilians.

As the survivors grapple with the immense loss and the premature baby fights for her life, the tragic airstrike in Rafah serves as a somber reminder of the toll war takes on innocent lives. The international community continues to call for an end to the violence and a peaceful resolution to the longstanding conflict between Israel and Palestine.