Infant rescued from deceased mother’s womb in Gaza tragically passes away

The tragic story of Baby Sabreen al-Sakani, who was rescued from her dying mother’s womb after an Israeli air strike in southern Gaza, has come to a heartbreaking end. The BBC has learned that the baby, who was delivered by Caesarean section in a Rafah hospital shortly after midnight on Sunday, has passed away.

Amid chaotic scenes, doctors worked tirelessly to resuscitate Baby Sabreen, using a hand pump to push air into her tiny lungs. Despite their efforts, she tragically succumbed to her injuries on Thursday and has been laid to rest next to her mother, after whom she was named.

Baby Sabreen was just one of 16 children who lost their lives in two air strikes in Rafah over the weekend. The strikes targeted the housing complex where they lived, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stating that they were aiming for Hamas fighters and infrastructure.

Sabreen’s mother was seven-and-a-half months pregnant when the air strike hit the al-Sakani family home, claiming the lives of her husband and three-year-old daughter. Miraculously, Sabreen was still alive in her mother’s womb when rescue workers arrived at the scene.

Weighing only 1.4kg (3.1 lbs) at birth, Baby Sabreen faced severe respiratory distress due to her premature arrival. Dr. Mohammed Salama, head of the emergency neo-natal unit at Emirati Hospital in Rafah, lamented the fact that she was deprived of the right to remain in her mother’s womb.

The family had planned to adopt Baby Sabreen, according to her maternal grandmother, Mirvat al-Sakani. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports that the majority of the more than 34,000 people killed in Gaza since the conflict began are women and children.

The ongoing conflict has led to a dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, with an estimated 1.4 million people crowded into Rafah. Israel has indicated plans for a ground offensive in the area, citing the need to defeat Hamas and search for hostages.

In response, the US has urged Israel to consider a targeted approach rather than a full-scale invasion of Rafah, warning of the potential for an even greater humanitarian crisis. As the world watches the devastating toll of the conflict in Gaza, the story of Baby Sabreen serves as a poignant reminder of the innocent lives caught in the crossfire.