Human Rights Watch: 300% rise in miscarriages in Gaza

Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report, Tuesday, detailing the devastating effects of "Israel's" military actions on pregnant women and newborns in Gaza.

The report, titled “Five Babies in One Incubator” Violations of Pregnant Women’s Rights Amid Israel’s Assault on Gaza, highlights severe medical shortages, a sharp increase in miscarriages, and dire conditions for childbirth.

According to HRW, the "Israeli" blockade and attacks on Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure have placed women and girls in life-threatening situations during pregnancy and childbirth.

The report stresses that "Israel", as the occupying power in Gaza, has violated the rights of pregnant women to receive adequate healthcare, including dignified and respectful care during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.

Belkis Wille, associate crisis, conflict, and arms director at HRW, stated, “Since the start of the hostilities in Gaza, women and girls are going through pregnancy lacking basic health care, sanitation, water, and food. They and their newborns are at constant risk of preventable death.”

The report, based on interviews conducted between June and December 2024, found that only a fraction of Gaza’s hospitals remain functional, with emergency obstetric and newborn care available in only a few.

Despite a ceasefire agreement in January 2025, healthcare quality remains severely diminished, with overcrowded conditions and shortages of essential medical supplies. Furthermore, recent "Israeli" legislation could worsen maternal and newborn health by restricting the operations of UNRWA, which provides crucial aid to Palestinian families.

HRW's findings also show a dramatic 300 percent increase in miscarriages since the start of the aggression in October 2023, while other health services, including prenatal care and follow-up, are nearly non-existent.

The humanitarian crisis has left many pregnant women and their babies without access to life-saving care, with reports of overcrowded incubators and newborn deaths due to hypothermia.

HRW calls on "Israel’s" allies, including the US, to take action to end these human rights violations and ensure that the needs of pregnant women, newborns, and others requiring healthcare are met.