According to figures from the ministry of health in Gaza reported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on July 23, 2026, the number of miscarriages in Gaza tripled between January and June 2026 compared with the previous six months, recording over 3,950 cases. Expectant mothers encounter major hazards stemming from continuous danger, severe food shortages, packed and unclean environments, scarce clean drinking water, and forced displacement.
Medical Experts Document Rising Pregnancy Losses and Severe Malnutrition
Dr. Rewaa Nasser, a specialist in gynaecology and obstetrics at Al-Shifa Medical Complex whose maternity ward relocated to Al-Helou International Hospital in northwestern Gaza, stated that pregnancy in the region has become riskier and more complex. Dr. Nasser observed an alarming increase in pregnancy losses at various stages, as well as fetal deaths in utero, alongside an increase in pregnant women arriving with severe anemia, malnutrition, and significant physical and psychological stress. Dr. Shereen Al-Alawi, a gynaecologist and obstetrician at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, shares this assessment and noted that substances from explosives could be a factor in the rise of miscarriages and birth defects. Studies conducted in Gaza between 2011 and 2019 have previously documented the negative impact of prenatal exposure to war debris containing heavy metals.
Did You Know? Between January and June 2026, the miscarriage rate in Gaza reached approximately one miscarriage for every five live births, according to data reported by OCHA.
Hospital Overcrowding and Emergency Care Shortages
Hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed amid ongoing conflict conditions. According to figures from the ministry of health in Gaza cited by OCHA, 1,254 Palestinians have been killed and 4,121 wounded since the ceasefire was announced on October 10, 2025. There are only 2,000 hospital beds available for a population of more than 2 million people, which includes 50,000 pregnant women. As of March 2026, only 15% of health facilities are able to provide emergency obstetric and neonatal care due to conflict-related destruction and restrictions on medical supplies.
Expert Insight: The intersection of destroyed infrastructure, mass displacement, and blocked medical supply chains creates a compounding health crisis for expectant mothers. Without reliable prenatal care, essential nutrition, and functional surgical facilities, preventable complications frequently escalate into life-threatening emergencies for both mothers and newborns.
Dr. Al-Alawi reported that Nasser Hospital admits a patient volume that far exceeds its capacity, leaving corridors packed with the sick and occasionally forcing staff to deliver babies on the hospital floor. Additionally, data from the United Nations shows that a minimum of 15 women in Gaza deliver their babies outside any medical facility weekly, lacking medical care or pain management, primarily due to transportation and security hurdles that delay hospital entry.
Legal Findings on Reproductive Conditions
A commission of inquiry mandated by the UN Human Rights Council found in a March 2025 report that Israeli authorities had partially destroyed the ability of Palestinians in Gaza to have children. The report classified these findings under two categories of genocidal acts defined by the Rome Statute and the Genocide Convention: deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of Palestinians as a group, and imposing measures intended to prevent births.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many miscarriages were recorded in Gaza between January and June 2026?
According to figures from the ministry of health in Gaza reported by OCHA, more than 3,950 miscarriages were recorded during this period, representing a tripling of cases compared to the previous six months.
What factors are contributing to the rise in pregnancy complications?
Medical specialists cite repeated displacement, overcrowded and unsanitary living conditions, acute food insecurity, limited access to safe drinking water, severe psychological stress, and difficulties in accessing regular medical care and nutrition.
How many hospital beds are currently available in Gaza?
There are only 2,000 hospital beds available across Gaza to serve a population of more than 2 million people.