Baby Rescued from Dying Mother's Womb Dies

Tragic Aftermath of Israeli Air Strike

By Mo Abbas and Erin McLaughlin

April 11, 2024, 500 AM PDT

TEL AVIV—It was a moment of elation amid tragedy in December as baby Tala Rouqa was pulled from the rubble unconscious but alive. But the joy was short-lived. Tala passed away on Monday, succumbing to the severe injuries she sustained in the airstrike.

Tala's mother, Sabreen Abu Oun, was killed in the attack. Doctors managed to perform an emergency cesarean section, delivering Tala despite Sabreen's critical condition. The baby was born severely underweight and in critical condition.

Tala's death adds to the tragic toll of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Israeli airstrikes have killed dozens of civilians, including children, in recent months. The strikes are part of a broader campaign against Palestinian militant groups in the Hamas-controlled territory.

The Israeli government defends its actions as necessary to protect its citizens from rocket attacks from Gaza. However, critics argue that the airstrikes are indiscriminate and cause unnecessary civilian casualties.

As the conflict continues, the death of baby Tala serves as a stark reminder of the devastating human cost of war.