12-year-old survivor of airstrike in Gaza arrives in Atlanta

Published

1 year ago

December 15, 2024

12-year-old survivor of airstrike in Gaza arrives in Atlanta

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – A special moment took place at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Saturday afternoon.

A 12-year-old girl from Gaza named Habiba landed in the United States for the first time.

Through a translator, the girl shared her excitement.

“I’m very happy to be here and I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” Habiba said.

Habiba — accompanied by her aunt Heyam — was flown out to Atlanta by HEAL Palestine. The nonprofit organization provides medical assistance to Palestinian children.

Habiba is the first child from Gaza to be brought to Atlanta through this initiative.

HEAL Palestine helped arrange their travel and funded a cranioplasty surgery for the refugee.

“I hope that I will recover well and that I will heal after,” Habiba said.

On January 3, 2024, an Israeli airstrike bombed Habiba’s family’s tent.

This attack killed her mother, three sisters, uncle and cousins.

Habiba, initially presumed dead, was miraculously found alive the next day. She was severely injured with burns, along with abdominal and cranial wounds.

Tamara Quadri is a volunteer with HEAL Palestine who was at the airport on Saturday.

“Her injury was grave and they’ve experienced a lot of trauma over there,” she said.

For Quadri and others who greeted the girl at the airport, Habiba’s mindset and attitude was inspiring.

“In many ways, she’ll heal us because of her strength and resilience,” she said. “It’s infectious.”

Heyam, Habiba’s aunt, expressed relief that they had finally arrived in Atlanta after a difficult year.

“It was a miracle and felt like a difficult dream that came true,” she said.

Habiba will have a medical assessment on Monday to determine a timeline for her surgery and recovery.

Once her treatment is complete, she and Heyam will decide whether to return to Egypt — where they’ve been living as refugees — or extend their stay in Atlanta.

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Braves make another addition to 'pen, reuniting with Kinley

Published

54 minutes ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Braves make another addition to 'pen, reuniting with Kinley

ATLANTA — The Braves’ decision to decline Tyler Kinley’s $5.5 million option in November proved to be a sound financial decision.
Kinley reunited with the Braves on Saturday when he agreed to a one-year, $4.25 million deal. The right-handed reliever will draw a $3 million salary in 2026; his $5.5

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Atlanta, GA

Golden State takes home win streak into matchup with Atlanta

Published

13 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Golden State takes home win streak into matchup with Atlanta

Atlanta Hawks (19-21, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Golden State Warriors (21-18, eighth in the Western Conference)

San Francisco; Sunday, 8:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Golden State will try to keep its three-game home win streak alive when the Warriors face Atlanta.

The Warriors are 13-5 on their home court. Golden State is 9-12 against opponents over .500.

The Hawks have gone 12-10 away from home. Atlanta ranks second in the league scoring 17.6 fast break points per game. Nickeil Alexander-Walker leads the Hawks averaging 3.9.

The Warriors average 15.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.8 more made shots on average than the 13.1 per game the Hawks give up. The Hawks average 14.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.4 more made shots on average than the 12.1 per game the Warriors allow.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jimmy Butler III is averaging 19.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.9 assists for the Warriors. Stephen Curry is averaging 25.7 points and 5.1 assists over the past 10 games.

Onyeka Okongwu is averaging 16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Hawks. Jalen Johnson is averaging 21.1 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Warriors: 7-3, averaging 120.1 points, 42.5 rebounds, 30.4 assists, 8.9 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.0 points per game.

Hawks: 4-6, averaging 116.9 points, 42.4 rebounds, 31.9 assists, 10.1 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.0 points.

INJURIES: Warriors: Seth Curry: out (thigh).

Hawks: Kristaps Porzingis: out (achilles), Zaccharie Risacher: out (knee), CJ McCollum: out (quad), N’Faly Dante: out for season (knee), Corey Kispert: out (hamstring).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Atlanta, GA

Flood watch expands into metro Atlanta ahead of severe storm threat

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Flood watch expands into metro Atlanta ahead of severe storm threat

Friday evening forecast: Rain train en route

A powerful weather system is currently moving through North Georgia, replacing unseasonable record warmth with heavy rain and potential severe storms. The FOX 5 Storm Team is tracking a “rain train” of moisture that could dump over 4 inches of rain in some areas, prompting active flood warnings across the region.

ATLANTA – A powerful weather front is moving into metro Atlanta, prompting officials to expand flood watches as “wave-after-wave” of heavy rain threatens to saturate the region through Saturday.

The FOX 5 Storm Team warn that storm totals could reach four inches in some areas, with isolated spots in North Georgia potentially seeing up to six inches.

Flood Watch in northwest Georgia

What we know:

A Flood Watch is currently in effect through Saturday evening for a large portion of North Georgia. The region is bracing for widespread rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches. Some areas could see locally higher amounts reaching up to 6 inches before a cold front moves through Saturday afternoon to end the threat.

“The rain train is wide open and here it comes,” said FOX 5 Storm Team chief meteorologist David Chandley. “We got waves of rain tonight and storms. They’re going to be with us tonight and right on through Saturday.”

In the northwest, the watch includes Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Dade, Dawson, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Lumpkin, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Towns, Union, Walker, White, and Whitfield counties.

KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST BY DOWNLOADING THE FREE FOX 5 STORM TEAM APP AND FOLLOWING @FOX5STORMTEAM ON X

Flooding risk, high winds

Local perspective:

Thunderstorms expected overnight and into early Saturday morning are a primary concern.

The primary concern for North Georgia remains damaging winds and heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding. While the threat of severe weather is lower Friday night, the FOX 5 Storm Team expects conditions to change as the front arrives Saturday morning.

“Flooding [is] possible in Northwest Georgia with that severe threat,” Chandley said. “I expect we may see some of those [flash flood warnings] across North Georgia late tonight and early tomorrow because that ground is going to be saturated.”

A Level 1 “marginal risk” for severe storms has been issued for most of the area, though regions near Columbus face a slightly higher “slight risk.” Forecasters noted that while the atmosphere currently lacks the instability for massive thunderstorms, a “brief, spin-up tornado” cannot be ruled out on Saturday.

What’s next:

Sunday: Windy and much colder, with highs struggling to reach the 40s and 50s.

Monday: Temperatures are expected to plummet into the 20s by Monday morning.

The Source: This article contains an original forecast by the FOX 5 Storm Team.

Severe WeatherNewsAtlantaGeorgia

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