It’s heartbreaking to witness the devastating consequences of war, especially when innocent lives, like that of Baby Rouh, are caught in the crossfire. During the conflict between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza, tragedy struck when an Israeli airstrike hit the family home of Sabreen Al-Sakani in Rafah. Sabreen, heavily pregnant at 30 weeks, was seriously injured in the attack, while her husband Shukri and their three-year-old daughter Malak tragically lost their lives.
Despite the heroic efforts of medical professionals at the Emirati hospital in Rafah, Sabreen succumbed to her injuries. However, there was a glimmer of hope as doctors managed to deliver her baby girl, Rouh, through a Caesarean section. Yet, Rouh’s fragile health was compromised from the start, facing respiratory problems and a weak immune system. Despite the dedicated care she received, Rouh’s life was tragically cut short just a few days after her birth.
The loss of Baby Rouh serves as a poignant reminder of the toll that conflict exacts on innocent civilians, particularly women and children. In the broader context of the six-month-old war in Gaza, where over 34,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, the tragedy of Baby Rouh’s passing underscores the urgent need for peace and the protection of civilian lives. The destruction wrought by Israeli bombardments has left Gaza’s hospitals in disarray, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation.
As Dr. Mohammad Salama, head of the emergency neo-natal unit at Emirati Hospital, reflects on the loss, he expresses the profound difficulty and pain of witnessing such a tragedy. Baby Rouh’s grandmother’s plea to care for her granddaughter as a beacon of her family’s memory highlights the profound impact of war on generations. Yet, amidst the sorrow, there remains a poignant acknowledgment of fate, as Dr. Salama remarks, “It was God’s will that she died.” The story of Baby Rouh serves as a sobering reminder of the human cost of conflict and the imperative for peace and reconciliation in Gaza.
