Watch: Abela Offers Refuge to Doctor Who Lost Nine Children In Israeli Airstrike
Prime Minister Robert Abela offered paediatrician Dr Alaa al-Najjar shelter in Malta after nine of her ten children were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Friday night.
“She was working, treating children, and in a second, nine of her own children were gone,” Abela said.
Only her husband – also a doctor – and one of their children survived; however, both were seriously injured, he continued.
“Can we, Malta, turn our faces to this tragedy and pretend that nothing happened? You tell me,” he said, addressing a sombre crowd, which responded with slow, deliberate applause.
Abela went on to emphasise Malta’s capacity and moral responsibility to provide shelter and support to victims of Israel’s ongoing military campaign, before formally extending the invitation to Dr al-Najjar.
“Dr Alaa al-Najjar, Malta welcomes you — to provide shelter for you and your family and to treat you as one of our own,” he announced.
Abela also condemned the devastating blockade on aid, particularly food and medicine, which has only been slightly eased after three months and under significant international pressure. Thousands of innocent people have died from starvation, and Abela argued that as a country, “we cannot accept this.”
During this speech, Abela reaffirmed that Malta will recognise Palestine, hinting that this could happen as early as 20th June, when a United Nations conference is set to take place.
Featured image (left): Alaa al-Najjar visits her injured husband in the intensive care unit. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
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