A group of parents in Gaza are experiencing profound heartbreak as they remain separated from their prematurely born infants, who are receiving specialized care in Jerusalem. The ongoing conflict has left these families unable to reunite, relying instead on shaky video calls for connection.
Among the affected are triplets Najwa, Noor, and Neshmeh, along with their peer Saidahidah, all of whom were born just outside Gaza. Now, at nearly 13 months old, they are stuck on opposite sides of the wall that encloses Gaza, with their parents longing to hold them. The only glimpses of their children come during brief video calls, where the little ones reach out for fathers they have never met.
The situation is dire for many families. Hiba and Salah, parents of Saidahidah, have been displaced to a tent in Gaza, often without phone service. They rely on old photographs to maintain a connection with their daughter, expressing fears that she may not recognize them when they finally reunite.
These infants were born prematurely last summer due to the lack of adequate neonatal care in Gaza, necessitating their transfer to hospitals in Israel. The parents, who underwent IVF to conceive, are now left waiting in uncertainty, hoping for a future where they can finally be together with their children.