She protected her tiny daughter. 24‑year-old woman killed in Gaza
War is full of horrors. Soldiers die, civilians and children die. Their stories often bring us to tears. Leyla, a 24-year-old Ukrainian citizen, was found in a ruined house in the Gaza Strip. As journalist Anton Naumiluk reports, the woman shielded her two-month-old daughter with her own body. Unfortunately, the 24-year-old died in the hospital, but her child survived.
Oct 21, 2023 | updated: 3:19 AM EDT, October 23, 2023
"The Kyiv Independent" reports that a young Ukrainian citizen died on October 19 as a result of military actions between Israel and Hamas. Journalist Anton Naumliuk described her story on Facebook.
Gaza Strip: 24-year-old Ukrainian woman dies
Leyla Khyzhy was born in Kharkiv. Her father was Palestinian, and her mother was Ukrainian. When the man finished his studies, he moved the entire family to Gaza. Leila, having reached adulthood, got married and gave birth to a daughter, Elena.
As Naumliuk describes, Leyla was found in a house that collapsed after Israeli bombardment. The woman was trying to protect her two-month-old child with her body. - In every war, mothers, regardless of nationality, religion, or language, try to protect their children. - wrote Naumliuk.
Unfortunately, Leyli could not be saved. There weren't enough doctors for the woman, because they were busy saving the lives of people injured in the explosion at Al-Ahli hospital. Two-month-old Elena survived.
The death of a 24-year-old woman is the first official confirmed case in the Gaza Strip in terms of Ukrainian citizens. Israel's Ambassador to Ukraine Michael Brodski previously reported that 18 of his country's citizens died after Hamas's attack on Israel.
Several hundred Ukrainians have already been evacuated from the Middle East, with more expected to return to their home country in the coming days.
Israel's War with Hamas
On October 7, Hamas fighters broke through fortifications along the border with the Gaza Strip, invaded Israel and committed widespread murder. They also carried out a rocket attack. Approximately 1,400 people were killed.
In response, Israel is conducting a bombardment aimed at targets located in the Gaza Strip. As a result of the ongoing actions, nearly 4,000 people on the Palestinian side have already died.
The Israeli Armed Forces have called up reservists. The army is gathering near the border with the Gaza Strip. In the coming days, an anticipated offensive may begin, the goal of which is said to be the complete destruction of Hamas.
