Human Rights Watch: Israel war threatens pregnant women and girls in Gaza

Human Rights Watch: Israel war threatens pregnant women and girls in Gaza

Israel caused "serious and sometimes life -threatening dangers" for 15 months of pregnant and freshly born women as well as girls in the Gaza Strip.

The report by Human Rights Watch

The 50-page report entitled "Five Babies in an incubator": Injuries to the right-wing pregnant women in the course of Israel's attack on Gaza was published on Tuesday by the US organization. The report describes attacks on medical institutions and health staff in Gaza, who "directly harmed women and girls during pregnancy, birth and postnatal phase". It is also found that the war has increased the risk of miscarriages, premature births, stillbirths, postpartum bleeding and underweight in newborns.

illegal blockade and human rights violations

hrw accuses Israel of enforcing an illegal blockade that almost includes a complete ban on water, food and electricity. In addition, hunger is used as a method of war and the medical system is attacked. These measures violate the right to aftercare and postnatal care for pregnant women and girls as well as their children.

"Israel is obliged to use all resources that are available to him to ensure that all people in the Gaza Strip, including pregnant women, their children and girls can enjoy the right to health," the report says. "This includes ensuring the restoration of the health system in Gaza so that all patients, including pregnant women and babies, have access to high -quality medical care."

claims of the genocide

hrw repeated the allegations that Israel Völkermord Palestinians in the Gaza Strip commit what Israel vehemently denies. Israel was also brought to the United Nations International Court of Justice for allegations of genocide.

attacks on medical facilities

The Israeli Armed Forces (IDF) repeated their claims that Hamas use hospitals for military operations. Hamas rejects this claim. CNN cannot check any of the two claims independently.

The Israeli attack Since the attacks led by Hamas on October 7, entire families extinguished, the medical system has severely damaged and led to hunger, illnesses and displacements. According to the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip, at least 47,306 Palestinians were killed. Among them were 12,316 women and 808 infants under one year, as the Gaza government's media office reported on January 24th. Although a fragile ceasefire began last week, the survival challenges for new and expectant mothers remain serious in enclave.

The dramatic Situation of health care

Over 1,054 health workers and medical specialists were killed, including at least six pediatricians and five gynecologists, reports HRW, citing the Ministry of Health in Gaza. Since January, emergency care for pregnant women and newborns has been available in seven of the 18 partially functioning hospitals in Gaza, four of the eleven field hospitals and a community center, reports HRW.

The misery rate in Gaza has increased by 300 % since October 7, 2023, reported the international federation of family planning associations in July. Two Palestinian women reported that their fetuses died after they were injured by explosive attacks that also killed their partners.

fear of survival and difficulties in birth

Even for women who make it into a medical facility, the stay offers little support. Women can be released within a few hours after the birth, since the staff is overwhelmed by numerous injuries that came through bombardments, according to HRW.

Mayas Sufyan Musa, 25, said CNN that she went to the Al-Emirati hospital in Rafah on foot to give her daughter Maria's life on February 27th. She was surprised by the amount of desperate Palestinians looking for refuge.

"I didn't have the necessary privacy during my birth. I was very afraid of bleeding," said Musa. "I had great difficulties in the birth because I was afraid of the shot next to the hospital. My husband was informed that I had to go immediately ... It was a very difficult moment and the cleanliness in the hospital was not available."

The stress of pregnant women

For pregnant women in the Gaza Strip, the stress factors can weaken the immune system, damage the fetus and lead to premature births due to military attacks and the lack of food and water, according to HRW. Dr. Adnan Radi, a doctor in the Al Awda Hospital in northern Gaza, reported that most babies who gave birth to the staff have an extremely low birth weight and die from perinatal asphyxia.

"We try to intubate the babies. Sometimes that helps, but the situation is very dark," said Dr. Radi in the HRW report and added: "Last month I can remember more than six babies with a low birth weight who died before my eyes."

challenges in the refugee camps

In large refugee camps, parents report that they cannot eat enough, no clean water, no warmth or sanitary facilities. Sometimes supervisors have to feed babies with infant food made from dirty water, which increases the risk of dehydration, hepatitis A and skin infections, according to HRW.

pregnant and breastfeeding women who share toilets in overcrowded rooms are particularly susceptible to infections, including urinary tract infections that can lead to premature births, low birth weight and dead birth, reports Al Shurafa, program officer from Map.

"Women may feel uncomfortable or unsure about breastfeeding under such conditions," said Al Shurafa. "This lack of privacy can lead to stress and fear, which affects the mother's ability to relax and develop a successful still routine."

The alarming food shortage

Over 48,000 pregnant women experience food shortages and extreme hunger in December, according to the UN reproductive law authority. At least 56 children have starved, reported Zahir Al-Wahidi, director of information systems in the Gaza Ministry of Health. According to the Unicef.

Musa, which was sold in the central Gaza in Deir al-Balah, said CNN that the baby was malnourished. "The severity and violence of suffering focused on physical expulsion," she said. "I was afraid that we could be exposed to direct shelling or rocket fragments, and suffered from the rain, the cold and flooding of the tents."

despair in the middle of the war

Israa Mazen Diab al-Ghul, 30, a pregnant woman who was sold in Nuseirrat in the central Gaza, reported HRW that she had nothing to drink for two days in early 2024, except for sea water. "I vomited and was afraid that it would kill the baby ... I started praying that God should take the baby away so that I didn't have to release during this war."

Disorders of the communication systems hinder the access of women to hotlines and online information, while power failures disrupt ultrasound examinations as well as blood and urine examinations, according to HRW. A patient for prenatal care that was driven out in Khan Younis [in southern Gaza] told CNN that she had passed out when she reached the Al-AWDA hospital because she was so exhausted by the trip and a lack of nutrition. She could not afford vitamins to relieve her symptoms.

"Everything is rare," said Rahaf Umm Khaled, 21, which is fourth month pregnant. "I hope that the war ends completely. I want to give my child healthy and that we can safely return to our houses."

cnns lauren izso contributed to reporting.