Gaza’s Mothers On The Brink: The Toll Of War On Pregnant Women And Babies

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Israel’s military actions over 15 months have placed pregnant and postpartum women and girls in Gaza under severe and life-threatening conditions, as detailed in a new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW).

The 50-page report, titled “‘Five Babies in One Incubator’: Violations of Pregnant Women’s Rights Amid Israel’s Assault on Gaza,” highlights the catastrophic impact of attacks on medical facilities and healthcare workers. It outlines increased risks of miscarriage, preterm births, stillbirths, postpartum hemorrhages, and malnourished newborns amid Gaza’s besieged healthcare system.

HRW accuses Israel of violating international law through its blockade, destruction of medical infrastructure, and restrictions on essential supplies like water, food, and electricity. The report alleges that these actions have led to starvation, forced displacements, and the denial of critical postnatal care, escalating the crisis for expectant mothers and newborns.

“Israel is obligated to ensure that everyone in Gaza, including pregnant women and their children, has access to healthcare,” the report asserts, emphasizing the need to restore Gaza’s healthcare system to prevent further devastation.

The report also reiterates allegations of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza—claims Israel vehemently denies. Israel has countered by accusing Hamas of using hospitals for military purposes, an assertion Hamas rejects. CNN has not independently verified these claims.

Grim Statistics Amid the Chaos
Gaza’s Ministry of Health reports over 47,300 Palestinians killed since October 7, 2023, including 12,316 women and 808 babies under one year old. The survival challenges for mothers and infants remain dire despite a fragile ceasefire.

HRW data shows only seven of Gaza’s 18 partially functioning hospitals can provide emergency obstetric and newborn care, leaving many women without adequate medical support. The miscarriage rate has soared by 300% since October 2023, with mothers reporting fetal deaths linked to explosive attacks.

Overwhelmed hospitals often discharge women within hours of giving birth, forcing them to return to unsafe and unsanitary living conditions in overcrowded camps. Many babies are born underweight or die shortly after birth due to a lack of medical equipment and resources.

“We try to intubate the babies, but it’s a very bleak picture,” said Dr. Adnan Radi of Al-Awda Hospital. “In the last month, I’ve seen more than six low-birthweight babies die in front of me.”

Survival Amid Scarcity
Displaced families face extreme shortages of food, clean water, and sanitation, forcing mothers to feed their babies formula mixed with contaminated water. Such practices expose newborns to dehydration, infections, and malnutrition.

One mother, Israa Mazen Diab al-Ghul, recounted surviving on seawater for two days during her pregnancy. “I begged God to take the baby,” she said, dreading childbirth under such horrific circumstances.

In addition, communication disruptions, power cuts, and medical supply shortages further hinder access to vital prenatal care. Rahaf Umm Khaled, a 21-year-old expecting mother, shared her plea for peace: “I want the war to end. I want to give birth to my child in good health and return home safely.”

The report underscores the urgent need for international intervention to prevent further harm to Gaza’s most vulnerable. Mothers and babies are struggling to survive in what HRW calls one of the gravest humanitarian crises of our time.

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