GAZA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- For Om Jude Abu Warda, a mother from Gaza City, the moment she finally held her son after nearly two years was almost unreal.
"I couldn't believe he was finally here," she said, watching two-year-old Jude move cautiously inside the family's tent. "Every gesture, every glance, felt like a miracle."
Jude had been born prematurely at Al-Shifa Hospital during the latest chapter of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, a time when the hospital faced repeated bombardments, critical shortages of fuel, and gaps in essential medical supplies.
Born prematurely at eight months, Jude needed constant care in an incubator to protect him from complications that premature babies often face.
When parts of the hospital were hit, the family was initially told he had died. "But more than a year later, we learned he was alive and receiving treatment in Egypt," Om Jude said.
He was among 28 preemies evacuated after Al-Shifa Hospital was damaged, a move designed to ensure uninterrupted medical care for the most vulnerable newborns amid unprecedented strain on Gaza's health system.
During those months, Om Jude could only watch her son grow from a distance, relying on video calls and updates from medical staff.
"Watching your child grow from afar, not knowing if he would survive, was unbearable," she recalled.
Jude's recent return, along with seven other premature babies, marked a rare moment of relief for families across Gaza.
"He can barely speak yet, but he is finally with us," Om Jude said.
Preparations for their arrival included buying clothes, toys, and other essentials for their first days back home. "I imagined this moment countless times. Now, seeing him with my own eyes is more than I could have hoped for," she said.
For some families, the reunions carried a mixture of joy and remembrance. Ahmed al-Harsh, 31, visited the grave of his wife, mother and siblings, all killed in the conflict, as his child took his first steps back in Gaza.
Al-Harsh's child, born prematurely in the seventh month, had been evacuated at three weeks old without the family present.
"The hardest feeling is holding your child when they don't recognize you," he said. "I hope these children can grow in peace and stability."
The children arrived at the Rafah border crossing in late March under the supervision of UNICEF staff and were immediately taken to Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis for comprehensive health evaluations.
Monir al-Borsh, general director of the Gaza-based health authorities, described the children's return as a rare victory amid widespread adversity.
"Eight lives were saved from near death," he said. "The return of these children to Gaza offered relief and hope to families who faced months of separation, uncertainty, and threats to their children, highlighting the resilience of both the children and the local health system under extreme conditions."
Ahmed Al-Farra, director of pediatrics and obstetrics at the Nasser hospital, told Xinhua that "28 premature infants were evacuated during the November 2023 Israeli operation, and five died during the evacuation or treatment in Egypt."
"Care was provided with rudimentary means until specialized treatment became available. Their return represents a significant humanitarian step and underscores the urgent need for support to Gaza's health sector," he said.
Reunions bring rare joy amid Gaza's hardships. For parents like Om Jude and Al-Harsh, initial days with children involve attention, small celebrations and a quiet resolve to restore normalcy after years apart.
"The children are finally home. We will take each day as a gift and cherish every moment," Om Jude said. ■
