The first bombs of the current genocide fell during Tasneem’s final weeks of pregnancy. On October 7, 2023, as Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, Tasneem, then 25 years old and seven months pregnant, faced the harrowing reality of bringing a child into a world engulfed in chaos. This day marked the beginning of a conflict that would escalate into a two-year-long genocide, claiming the lives of at least 66,000 Palestinians, a grim statistic that underscores the severity of the situation.
In Gaza, Tasneem had spent her entire life under the oppressive weight of Israeli surveillance and violence. The attack on October 7 was not just an isolated incident; it was a catalyst for a new level of horror that her child would inherit. By the time she went into labor on December 25, 2023, the hospitals were overwhelmed, lacking basic necessities like electricity and medical supplies. Tasneem endured hours of labor in a barely functioning facility, and when her son, Ezz Aldin, was finally born, there was no food to aid her recovery, no diapers to care for him. Weakened and hungry, she breastfed her son, embodying the resilience of a mother determined to nurture life amidst devastation.
The situation in Gaza has continued to deteriorate, with the Israeli government, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pursuing policies that many observers label as ethnic cleansing. Palestinian women, like Tasneem, are still striving to bring new life into a world that is crumbling around them. They give birth not in sterile hospitals, but in overcrowded clinics, under the constant threat of aerial bombardment, amidst what has become one of the deadliest genocides in recent history.
Doaa’s story illustrates the emotional toll of this ongoing conflict. When the first bombs fell, she was not pregnant, but her life was irrevocably altered when her home was destroyed on January 14, 2024. Displaced from her home, she soon discovered she was expecting. The constant fear of sudden death loomed over her, and the sounds of nearby explosions haunted her nights. On October 28, 2024, she gave birth to her son, Hossam, in a hospital that was already overwhelmed. The conditions were dire: no special food, no clothes, just the instinctual drive to protect and nurture her fragile newborn.
The World Health Organization has reported alarming statistics regarding the health of Gaza’s population, revealing that 10 percent of the population and up to 20 percent of pregnant women suffer from moderate to severe malnutrition. In July alone, over 5,100 children were admitted to malnutrition programs, with many in critical condition. The lack of nutritious food, particularly for pregnant and breastfeeding women, has dire consequences. Iron-rich foods, fresh fruits, and vegetables are nearly impossible to find, exacerbating the suffering of mothers and their children.
A poignant question arises from these dire circumstances: “What have these children done to deserve being born in these conditions of genocide and famine?” This sentiment echoes the experiences of countless mothers, including one who gave birth on October 6, 2024. With diapers costing exorbitant amounts, many families resort to makeshift solutions, highlighting the desperation faced by those in Gaza.
Layan, born under such harrowing conditions, has now reached her first birthday. However, the lack of available nutrition means that many children, including her, are deprived of essential foods as they grow. Dana’s story is another testament to the struggles faced by mothers in Gaza. Born in a tent by the sea, Dana arrived to a mother suffering from severe malnutrition, with the specter of potential disabilities looming over her birth. Despite the challenges, Dana’s mother persevered, driven by hope and the sheer will to bring her child into a world that offers little promise.
The living conditions for displaced families are appalling. Tents become breeding grounds for disease, with inadequate sanitation and exposure to the elements threatening the health of the youngest and most vulnerable. The absence of basic medical care compounds the risks, as children face infections and illnesses that could easily be treated in more stable environments.
Noor’s experience further illustrates the chaos surrounding childbirth in Gaza. Rushed to the hospital amid explosions, she found herself in a corridor filled with patients, the air thick with fear and uncertainty. Her daughter’s faint cries marked a new beginning, yet the absence of basic necessities left Noor grappling with the harsh reality of motherhood in a war zone.
Since the onset of the genocide, estimates suggest that over 3,000 babies have been born in Gaza’s collapsing hospitals, many facing health complications due to malnutrition and inadequate medical care. Neonatal mortality rates have surged, with miscarriages and stillbirths becoming tragically common. The United Nations reports that among 17,000 births in the first half of 2025, a staggering number of infants required intensive care, highlighting the
