‘The dream I carried is gone’: Miscarriages rise amid trauma of Gaza’s war

What Happened

Medical staff at al-Awda Hospital in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, report a sharp rise in miscarriages and pregnancy complications since October 2023. Dr Yasser Saadeddine, the maternity director, told Al Jazeera that roughly 70 percent of pregnancy losses treated at the hospital are linked to Israel’s war and blockade, citing malnutrition, psychological stress, environmental contamination, and repeated displacement. Multiple women described losing pregnancies or babies due to air strikes, lack of medical care, and hunger. The article presents these accounts without independent verification, attributing the surge to conditions created by the conflict.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The reported surge in miscarriages underscores the severe humanitarian impact of the war on maternal and infant health, adding to the civilian suffering and potentially influencing international legal scrutiny over the blockade’s consequences.

Watch For

Monitoring of maternal health data from UN agencies such as UNFPA or WHO; potential use of these reports in submissions to the ICJ or ICC regarding conditions in Gaza; and whether any ceasefire or humanitarian access agreements specifically address obstetric care and medical supplies.