Gaza Father's Two-Year Search for Child Amid War Chaos

Mohammed Lubbad, a Gaza resident, has spent two years searching for a son whose existence remains uncertain following the death of his pregnant wife, Amal, in Israeli air strikes in October 2023. After surviving an attack on his home in Beit Lahiya, Lubbad received conflicting reports about Amal’s fate. Initially told she gave birth via Caesarean section at Kamal Adwan Hospital, he later learned she died from injuries at al-Shifa Hospital. Amid the chaos of war and scarce medical records, Lubbad discovered a baby matching his son’s description had been evacuated but registered under another family’s name. This discrepancy has led to a painful dispute and ongoing uncertainty. Lubbad, now caring for his sole surviving daughter, Jana, continues to seek answers regarding the child’s identity and whereabouts. The case highlights the broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where fragmented documentation and displacement have separated countless families, leaving parents like Lubbad in limbo as they navigate the aftermath of devastating conflict and institutional collapse.