Sligo doctor says "heart has been displaced" after losing nieces and nephews in Gaza strike
A doctor living in Sligo who lost nine nieces and nephews in an Israeli strike on Gaza last Friday has said his "heart has been displaced".
Dr Ali Al-Najjar has worked at Sligo University Hospital for the past six years.
His sister Dr Alaa Al-Najjar is a paediatrician in Khan Younis. An Israeli airstrike hit her home after she had left for work at Nasser Hospital, killing nine of her ten children.
Alaa's husband, Hamdi Al-Najjar, who is also a doctor, is in critical condition while her only surviving son Adam is seriously injured.
Speaking to Liveline on RTÉ Radio 1 from Saudi Arabia, Ali described his sister as "the most resilient person I've ever met" and said she is now spending all her time with her husband and son in the hospital.
"They have no home to return back to, the building was levelled to the floor," he said.
"You are always connected to the media and watching the news every minute, hoping you won't be reading about one of your relatives. But every life that has been lost is related to me, we are all human, we are all the same."
Ali recalled seeing the news unfold on social media: "The horrible pictures of charred bodies being pulled from the rubble, and they were her kids."
Ali said he would keep in touch with Alaa when they could overcome difficulties in communication such as lack of electricity and internet in Gaza.
He said she recently described life there as "experiencing what doomsday is".
Staff at Sligo University Hospital have been fundraising for Ali's family in Gaza.
A post on GoFundMe describes him as "a valuable member of our team here in Sligo University Hospital" who has "greatly contributed to the wider Sligo community."
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