Palestinian Babies Reunited with Parents After 2-Year Separation

Premature infants evacuated during 2023 Israel-Hamas war finally back home in Gaza

Apr. 4, 2026 at 8:53pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

After being separated for over two years during the 2023 Israel-Hamas war, Palestinian mothers Sundus al Kurd and Heba Saleh have been reunited with their premature infant daughters Bissan and Azzhar. The babies were among 33 trapped inside a Gaza hospital that was under siege, before being evacuated to Egypt for medical care. While the emotional reunions have brought joy, the mothers now face the challenge of raising their children in the unstable conditions of Gaza.

Why it matters

This story highlights the devastating human toll of the ongoing conflict in the region, with families torn apart and children caught in the crossfire. It also underscores the critical role of humanitarian organizations in rescuing and caring for the most vulnerable during times of war.

The details

In November 2023, as the Israeli military laid siege to the Al Shifa hospital in Gaza, 33 premature babies were trapped inside the neonatal unit, running out of fuel, oxygen, and water. Doctors and nurses, many of whom were not pediatric specialists, fought to keep the infants alive. Eventually, 28 were evacuated to Egypt by the World Health Organization and Palestinian Red Crescent, though seven more died there due to the difficult conditions. Now, after over two years, 21 of the surviving children have been reunited with their families in Gaza, including Bissan and Azzhar.

  • In November 2023, the Al Shifa hospital in Gaza was under siege by the Israeli military.
  • On November 19, 2023, the 28 premature babies were evacuated from the hospital to a facility in Rafah, and then transported to Egypt.
  • Over the past two and a half years, 21 of the 28 evacuated babies have now been reunited with their families in Gaza.

The players

Sundus al Kurd

A young Palestinian mother who was reunited with her daughter Bissan after over two years of separation.

Bissan

A premature baby who was evacuated from the Al Shifa hospital in Gaza during the 2023 Israel-Hamas war and reunited with her mother after over two years.

Heba Saleh

The mother of Azzhar Kafarna, another premature baby who was evacuated from Gaza and reunited with her family after two and a half years.

Dr. Ahmed Mokhallalati

The former head of plastic surgery at the Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza, who was one of the few doctors who remained at the hospital during the Israeli siege.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Farra

The head of pediatrics and neonatal care at Nasser Hospital in Gaza, who examined the returning children.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“After all this time, my daughter is finally back in my arms!”

— Sundus al Kurd, Young Palestinian mother

“For two and a half years, I felt something missing all the time. I missed everything — her first smile, her first steps, even the little things that any mother waits for.”

— Heba Saleh, Mother of Azzhar Kafarna

“They were meant to die without incubators, without oxygen, without water, but they survived every single stage of this terrible reality.”

— Dr. Ahmed Mokhallalati, Former head of plastic surgery at Al Shifa Hospital

What’s next

Authorities in Gaza are working to provide medical care and support for the returning children, many of whom face long-term health complications from their premature births and the difficult conditions they endured. Efforts are also underway to reunite any remaining children with their families.

The takeaway

This story is a poignant reminder of the human toll of conflict, with innocent children caught in the crossfire. While the reunions are joyous, the mothers now face the challenge of raising their children in the unstable conditions of Gaza, underscoring the ongoing need for humanitarian aid and a lasting peace settlement in the region.