Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released a report highlighting the severe dangers facing pregnant women and newborns in Gaza due to the ongoing Israeli military operations. The report underscores how Israel’s blockade and the destruction of healthcare infrastructure have created life-threatening conditions for mothers and their babies. The blockade has restricted access to vital resources, including food and medical supplies, further exacerbating the crisis.
R.M., a 31-year-old woman from northern Gaza, shared her experience during the early days of the conflict in October 2023:
“I was literally starving. We were all in famine in northern Gaza. We had no gas to cook with. We had one meal a day to conserve firewood. … Flour was very, very expensive. No food. No chicken. No meat. I lost a lot of weight.”
The destruction of medical facilities has placed an immense strain on healthcare workers, with reports indicating that multiple newborns are being placed in a single incubator due to shortages of equipment. This overcrowding increases the risk of infections and other complications for vulnerable infants.
HRW’s report highlights the dire consequences of restricted movement, limited medical supplies, and ongoing attacks on healthcare centers, creating an environment where safe pregnancies and deliveries are virtually impossible. The organization calls for urgent international intervention to protect pregnant women and newborns in Gaza.