A group of children who were evacuated as premature infants during the early days of the Gaza war have finally been reunited with their families, in emotional scenes filled with both relief and uncertainty.
The reunions took place at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where parents embraced children many had not seen since birth.
Emotional Homecoming
For some families, the moment marked their first real meeting with their children. Parents described overwhelming joy, mixed with lingering fear after months of separation and conflict.
Many had initially been unsure whether their babies had survived the chaos that followed the outbreak of war.
Evacuation During Crisis
The infants were originally evacuated from Al-Shifa Hospital with the help of World Health Organization and International Committee of the Red Cross.
At the time, hospitals in Gaza were facing extreme shortages of fuel, electricity, and medical supplies, leaving newborns in critical condition.
Doctors had struggled to keep premature babies alive, often improvising to provide warmth and care as incubators failed.
Loss and Survival
Not all the infants survived. Several died before evacuation or in the years that followed due to complications linked to their early conditions.
Medical teams say those who survived had suffered from severe dehydration, infections, and hypothermia during the crisis.
Return Through Rafah
The children were among a group of Palestinians allowed to return through the Rafah border crossing after spending time in Egypt.
Their return was facilitated with support from UNICEF.
Hope and Uncertainty
While families celebrated the reunions, many expressed concern about the future, as the war has left Gaza deeply damaged.
Parents say they remain hopeful their children will grow up in safer conditions, despite the difficult start to their lives.
