Former Rafah Mayor Mourns Family Killed in Gaza Airstrike

Sobhi Radwan, the former mayor of Rafah in Gaza, is grieving the loss of his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren after their home was bombed in an Israeli airstrike on April 20, 2024. The attack killed Radwan's son, his wife Sabreen, and their 3-year-old daughter Malak. Sabreen, who had just given birth, was killed instantly. Her newborn baby miraculously survived but was delivered prematurely by emergency C-section and remains in severe respiratory distress.

The baby, weighing just 1.4 kg (3 lbs), is now an orphan and her survival is still uncertain, according to the family. She has been named Sabreen in memory of her mother. "They killed my daughter Sabreen and my granddaughter Malak," said Mirvat, Sabreen's mother, through tears of grief and anger. "My son is gone. My grandchildren are gone. What did they do to deserve this?"

The airstrike that hit the family's home also killed 15 children from the extended al Aal family in Rafah. The Israeli military claims it does not target civilians, but the attack has intensified apprehensions about a potential humanitarian crisis as Israeli forces prepare to enter Rafah and other parts of Gaza.

Why this matters: The deaths of the Radwan family members highlight the human toll and suffering of civilians caught in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza. The loss of innocent lives, including young children, emphasizes the pressing need for a peaceful resolution and the protection of non-combatants on both sides.

Rami, Sabreen's uncle, expressed his anguish over the attack that devastated their family. "They bombed the house without any warning. There were children inside, civilians, but they didn't care," he said. As the baby Sabreen fights for her life, the Radwan family mourns their immense loss and the senseless deaths of their loved ones in the continuing violence in Gaza.

Key Takeaways

• Rafah family killed in Israeli airstrike: father, mother, 3-year-old daughter
• Newborn baby Sabreen survives but in severe respiratory distress, orphaned
• 15 children from al Aal family also killed in the airstrike
• Israeli military claims no civilian targeting, but attack raises humanitarian concerns
• Incident highlights civilian suffering and need for peaceful resolution in Gaza conflict