Gaza conjoined twins survive separation surgery Published duration 8 January 2018

image copyright AFP image caption The baby girls were joined at the abdomen and lower body

A life-saving operation to separate a pair of Palestinian conjoined twins from Gaza has been successful, doctors say.

The baby girls, named as Farah and Haneen, underwent surgery at King Abdullah Children's Hospital in Riyadh.

They shared a leg but had separate hearts and lungs.

The girls, who were born in October, were joined at the abdomen and lower body.

The agency said the operation required separating the intestine, liver and pelvic wall, and involved nine stages.

image copyright AFP image caption The twins were flown to Saudi Arabia in December

The twins were flown to Saudi Arabia in December for the treatment, after being transported from Gaza to Jordan, Saudi media say.

Facilities to treat their complex condition were not available in Gaza, where the UN says quality of health services has deteriorated due to a blockade, repeated cycles of armed conflict, Palestinian political divisions and budget cuts.