The Najjar family in Gaza returned to their home nine days after fleeing an intense Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) assault on Khan Yunis to discover their severely disabled son, Iyad Muhammed Al-Najjar, dead and decomposed.

Iyad, 47, who suffered from a debilitating nervous system disorder that rendered him nearly paralyzed, had been left behind when the family evacuated on July 22 due to the IOF's evacuation orders. 

His condition made it impossible for him to move or care for himself, and the family had no means to transport him, lacking a wheelchair.

“Iyad could not go to the bathroom or eat without assistance. He was almost entirely dependent on his family,” Iyad’s uncle, Azmi Ahmed, recounted to Middle East Eye.

After the family left their home, anticipating a brief bombardment, they were unable to return immediately due to the intense military operations.

Khan Yunis experienced heavy bombardment and ground incursions for almost a week by the IOF. Hundreds of Palestinians were reported dead or wounded, with over 40 killed in a single day, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

“When the army withdrew this morning, we immediately returned,” he continued. “Only to find our area completely devastated. Buildings were demolished, and even tents were burned.”

Upon entering the Najjar family's home, which had been ransacked and left in disarray, Azmi was overwhelmed by a foul smell. He traced the odor to the neighbor’s yard, where he discovered Iyad’s body, partially covered with blankets. 

The body showed severe signs of decay, making it difficult to ascertain the exact cause of death.

“Due to the state of decay, we could not determine if he had been executed or if he died in another way,” Azmi said. “The scene was horrifying, and I could barely look at his body for more than a moment.” 

The family plans to transport Iyad’s remains to Nasser Hospital, though they currently lack the resources for a forensic examination due to the ongoing Israeli Occupation aggression.

This incident adds to the growing list of tragic casualties in Gaza, where reports of civilians, including those with disabilities, suffering during the aggression have surfaced. 

Earlier, the family of Muhammed Bhar, a 24-year-old man with Down syndrome, found his decomposed body after he was mauled by IOF-trained dogs. 

The IOF had initially misreported the circumstances of Bhar's death before admitting the soldiers had abandoned him for dead.