Children evacuated from Gaza as premature babies in 2023 have returned to the territory and are meeting parents and siblings after years apart. A Reuters feature follows Bissan, who was born six weeks early after an airstrike injured her pregnant mother in Beit Lahiya.
An emergency evacuation
Bissan was among 29 premature infants moved from a neonatal hospital ward to Egypt in November 2023 as Israeli forces approached. She travelled in an incubator and received care in Egyptian hospitals. Seven of the 29 babies died in Egypt, according to doctors cited in the report. In March 2026, Bissan and 10 other children from the group returned to Gaza in a mission assisted by the United Nations.
Relearning family life
After more than two years apart, Bissan initially did not recognise her mother, Sundus al-Kurd. Her family is now building a relationship through everyday care and time together. The child is also adjusting to life in Gaza, where explosions and continued attacks have left her frightened by sudden loud sounds.
The story reflects both a reunion and the long-term effects of separation, trauma and disrupted neonatal care. A Gaza-based mental health expert said it was natural for children and parents to need time to reconnect after such a long separation. Their return brings families together while highlighting the lasting human consequences of war and displacement.
