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A YOUNG girl hit by fragments of an intercepted Iranian missile in Israel at the weekend is fighting for her life in hospital.
The heartbreaking first photos released of the seven-year-old showed her smiling in happier and healthier times.
Amina al-Hassouni was struck in the head by shrapnel in her home at 2am on Sunday morning.
The young girl was devastatingly caught in the crossfire as Iran and its proxy groups launched about 300 explosive drones at Israel.
Although 99 per cent of the missiles were intercepted by Israeli air defences, with the help of the US navy and Britain’s RAF, according to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), a small number did strike Israel.
A little girl was said to have been wounded, as a military base in the south of Israel suffered minor damage.
Amina’s father Mohammed al-Hassouni has now released two images of his daughter, who is still in a critical condition, with the Jewish Chronicle.
One picture showed the schoolgirl smiling at a camera on a sunny day, and another showed her looking content with her hair in pigtails.
The shattered dad told of the moment his little girl was hit by the missile after it blasted through their home in the Bedouin village of Al-Fura, which was not equipped with a shelter.
Fragments of the Iranian missile hit young Amina as she slept.
Mr Al-Hassouni told the Jewish Chronicle: “We rushed out, went to our car and drove to Arad.
“There, Magen David Adom [Israel’s national emergency medical, disaster, ambulance and blood bank service] met us and took Amina to the emergency room in Soroka Medical Centre.”
He added: “She is in a very serious condition, she went through two surgeries. They told us to wait so that’s what we are doing.
“We wait and we pray all the time.”
Eight others were reportedly brought to Soroka Medical Centre with minor injuries, including some who were also hit by shrapnel.
Medics caring for Amina warned that her life is still in danger. They are working urgently to treat the major head wound she suffered.
Amina’s father said he now fears for the lives of his other 14 children, one of whom fell during the intense “unprecedented” barrage.
Mr Al-Hassouni said some time passed before their family realised their son had hurt his stomach and was bleeding heavily.
The dad said: “They gave him medication, he is with us now, but he still suffers.”
He added that his children are too afraid to return to their home so his family is now living on the streets.
Amina was described by her dad as being a lively girl who loves to sing and dance, and someone her siblings depend on.
Mr Al-Hassouni continued: “Amina is not connected to this chaos, she doesn’t know anything, she doesn’t understand politics and she should be left out of it.”
The dad called on Israel to develop a stronger air defence system that will allow children to live their lives without fear.
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