2023–2024 Gaza Strip preterm births explained

Conflict:2023–2024 Gaza Strip preterm births
Partof:the Israel–Hamas war and the Gaza humanitarian crisis
Date:21 October 2023 – present
Place:Gaza Strip
Status:Ongoing
Casualties1:31+ dead

The Gaza Strip faced a premature baby crisis during the Israel–Hamas war. The situation escalated when the Israeli Defense Forces raided Al-Shifa Hospital, Al-Nasr Children's Hospital, and Kamal Adwan Hospital. Reports of premature babies in intensive care, added to concerns about the rising number of preterm births in Gaza.[1] The newborns gained global attention.[2]

Background

Starting on 21 October, Medical Aid for Palestinians and UNICEF issued an "urgent warning" that 130 premature babies would die if fuel did not reach Gaza hospitals soon.[3] [4] On 23 October, officials in Gaza confirmed that due to the Israeli siege on fuel, when hospitals lost electricity, premature babies in NICUs were at risk of death.[5] [6]

Al-Shifa Hospital

See also: Al-Shifa Hospital siege. On 11 November, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari stated the army would help evacuate babies from al-Shifa Hospital, but a Gaza Health Ministry spokesman stated Israel had not provided "any mechanism to get the babies out to a safer hospital."[7] [8] The same day, Physicians for Human Rights stated two premature babies had died due to the loss of electricity.[9] Two additional babies died soon after.[10] The babies were reported to be suffering from severe hypoglycemia — insufficient blood sugar.[11]

On 15 November, Israel launched a raid on al-Shifa Hospital, where three dozen premature babies were still sheltering.[12] The director of Al-Shifa stated Israel's claim that it had provided incubators to premature babies was false.[13] One mother reported believing that her premature son was going to die.[14] On 19 November, 31 premature babies at al-Shifa were evacuated by the Palestinian Red Crescent, WHO, and UNOCHA to southern Gaza.[15] They were planned to be moved to Egypt with their families the following day.[16] On 20 November, 28 of the babies were evacuated to Egypt.[17] Only eight were accompanied by their parents, as the others were orphans, or their parents were unable to leave Gaza.[18] At least two sets of parents were reunited with their babies in Egypt after being added to an urgent list of medical travelers.[19] As of November 20, 2023 eight babies were reported as having died at al-Shifa during that month.[20]

Al-Nasr Children’s Hospital

On 10 November, Doctors Without Borders reported that evacuating medical workers at Al-Nasr Children's Hospital had to leave babies in incubators after the IDF bombed the pediatric hospital.[21] [22] On 29 November, video footage from Al-Nasr showed the aftermath of the hospital's evacuation, with the five premature babies dead still in their incubators.[23] The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor confirmed the Al-Nasr infants' deaths.[24] They stated the IDF had indicated to hospital staff they would evacuate the babies, though the IDF denied any involvement.[25] [26] In a recording of a phone call between COGAT and a medical official, the IDF official confirmed ambulances would retrieve patients from al-Nasr, but hospital officials stated the ambulances never arrived.[27] [28] The Red Cross stated they were "devastated" by the footage and denied they were responsible for their abandonment.[29]

Other hospitals

In mid-December, Israel began a military siege and raid on the Kamal Adwan hospital. On 14 December, the Gaza Health Ministry reported IDF soldiers had prevented medical staff from continuing support to 12 babies in intensive care.[30] Three premature babies had died at Kamal Adwan in November following a power outage.[31]

On 20 February 2024, the deputy director of the Al-Helal Al-Emairati Maternity Hospital in Rafah stated "several" premature babies had died in the hospital and said that the "health sector has been completely destroyed."[32] On 21 February, the Al-Helal hospital stated it was struggling to "provide adequate care" to premature and newborn babies due to the conflict nearby.[33]

Rise in preterm births

A pediatric doctor at the Emirati Hospital in Rafah, stated the number of premature babies born in Gaza had risen sharply.[19] On 23 November, Oxfam stated the number of premature births had risen by nearly one-third due to factors like stress and trauma.[34] In February 2024, the UN Population Fund reported that the anxiety mothers were experiencing due to incessant bombings and fleeing for safety had led to a rise in premature births.[35] In July 2024, Doctors Without Borders reported a rise in pre-term deliveries in southern Gaza.[36]

Destruction of embryos

A single strike on Gaza City's Al Basma IVF center, Gaza's largest IVF centre, destroyed most of the frozen IVF Embryos in the Gaza Strip.[37] It destroyed 4000 human embryos and an additional 1000 samples of frozen sperms and eggs.[38] The embryos were stored in liquid nitrogen, which did not require electricity to maintain; they only needed to be topped up once per month. But the blast blew the lid off 5 tanks, causing the liquid to quickly evaporate, which caused the embryos to defrost and die.[39] They are 9 or more clinics in the Gaza Strip that perform IVF related procedures, but most of the embryos were stored in 5 liquid nitrogen tanks at the at the Al Basma center.[40] The clinic was established in 1997 by obstetrician and gynecologist Bahaeldeen Ghalayini. Bahaeldeen Ghalayini said a single Israeli shell struck the part of the centre where there embryos were stored on the ground floor, but he said he did not know if the lab had been specifically targeted by the strike.[41]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Premature babies evacuated from Al-Shifa Hospital, health officials say . CBC . 19 November 2023 . 20 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231120181549/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/israel-hamas-war-gaza-day-44-1.7033192 . live .
  2. Web site: Shamseldin . Mai . Mother of one of 28 Gaza babies moved to Egypt recounts her ordeal . Reuters . 27 December 2023 . 2023-12-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231201115233/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/group-premature-babies-evacuated-gaza-into-egypt-tv-2023-11-20/#:~:text=The%20newborns%20have%20captured%20global,them%2C%20there%20were%2039%20babies. . live .
  3. Medical Aid for Palestinians . MedicalAidPal . 1715811462029988093 . 21 October 2023 . URGENT UPDATE: Doctors in #Gaza have issued an urgent warning that the lives of 130 premature babies are in imminent danger if fuel does not reach hospitals soon. . 22 October 2023.
  4. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/10/21/israel-gaza-war-hamas-and-israel-spar-over-hostage-release?update=2429398 "Let's recap what has happened so far"
  5. Web site: 3 premature babies die at Al-Shifa Hospital: Doctor . ABC News . 18 November 2023 . 20 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231120170829/https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/3-premature-babies-die-at-gazas-alshifa-hospital-doctor-says-104834155?id=104617602 . live .
  6. News: Magdy . Samy . Shurafa . Wafaa . Kullab . Samya . Dwindling fuel supplies for Gaza's hospital generators put premature babies in incubators at risk . . 24 October 2023 . 23 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231023021534/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/dwindling-fuel-supplies-gazas-hospital-generators-put-premature-104211808 . live .
  7. News: Rosenzweig-Ziff . Dan . Medical workers trapped at main Gaza City hospital; IDF offers to move babies . The Washington Post . 11 November 2023 . 11 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231111070105/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/11/11/israel-hamas-war-gaza-palestine-live/#link-EW7MCHNHIRHUJFV4I4KIUODLWA . live .
  8. Web site: No way to evacuate babies to a safer hospital: Health Ministry . Al Jazeera . 12 November 2023 . 21 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231121141256/https://aje.io/bt6i03?update=2480911 . live .
  9. Web site: 2 premature babies die at Gaza hospital: Israeli NGO . Al Jazeera . 11 November 2023 . 21 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231121105042/https://aje.io/jmh2l8?update=2479874 . live .
  10. News: Yee . Vivian . Premature Babies Are Evacuated From Embattled Hospital in Gaza . The New York Times . 19 November 2023 . 19 November 2023 . 22 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231122180621/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/19/world/middleeast/premature-babies-al-shifa-hospital-gaza-evacuation.html#:~:text=Since%20Nov.%2011%2C%20at%20least,for%20more%20than%20a%20week. . live .
  11. News: Loveluck . Louisa . Harb . Hajar . A Gazan family, a premature newborn, a painful choice to stay . The Washington Post . 27 December 2023.
  12. News: Boxerman . Aaron . Babies are among the thousands inside Al-Shifa as Israeli troops close in. . The New York Times . 14 November 2023 . 15 November 2023 . 15 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231115014826/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/11/14/world/israel-hamas-gaza-war-news/babies-are-among-the-thousands-sheltering-at-al-shifa-as-israeli-troops-close-in?smid=url-share . live .
  13. Web site: Israel's claims of providing incubators 'false', says al-Shifa director . Al Jazeera . 17 November 2023 . 18 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231118163021/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/11/17/israel-hamas-war-live-thousands-in-danger-of-death-amid-hospital-siege?update=2494252 . live .
  14. Web site: Shawkat . Ahmed . Gaza mother "lost hope" that her son, born in a war zone, had survived. Now they're finally together. . CBS News . 21 December 2023 . 28 December 2023.
  15. Web site: Palestinian Red Crescent, UN agencies evacuate Al Shifa premature babies . Reuters . 19 November 2023 . 2023-11-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231120115139/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/palestinian-red-crescent-un-agencies-evacuate-al-shifa-premature-babies-2023-11-19/ . live .
  16. Web site: Jobain . Najib . Magdy . Samy . 31 'very sick' babies have been evacuated from Gaza's largest hospital, where trauma patients remain . Associated Press . 19 November 2023 . 19 November 2023 . 21 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231121004814/https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-11-19-2023-08a2f441a9ea03bf0bb3db0de6fc5408 . live .
  17. News: Mpoke Bigg . Matthew . 28 Premature Babies Evacuated From Gazan Hospital Arrive in Egypt . The New York Times . 20 November 2023 . 20 November 2023 . 22 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231122180708/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/20/world/middleeast/premature-babies-gaza-hospital-egypt.html . live .
  18. Web site: Two Premature Babies Died Before Evacuation From Gaza: UN . Barron's . Agence France Presse . 21 November 2023 . 21 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231121152623/https://www.barrons.com/news/two-premature-babies-died-before-evacuation-from-gaza-un-6cdd470e . live .
  19. Web site: Alsaafin . Linah . Humaid . Maram . Emaciated but alive: Gaza mothers, premature babies reunited in Egypt . Al Jazeera . 16 December 2023 . 16 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231216052848/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/15/gaza-mothers-and-premature-babies-reunited-in-egypt-after-weeks . live .
  20. Web site: al-Mughrabi . Nidal . Premature Gaza babies evacuated to Egypt as Israeli tanks encircle second hospital . Reuters . 18 December 2023 . 2023-12-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231213135138/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-tanks-reported-near-hospital-embattled-north-gaza-2023-11-20/ . live .
  21. News: Parker . Claire . North Gaza hospitals have turned into 'a graveyard,' Doctors Without Borders says . The Washington Post . 2 December 2023 . 11 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231111070105/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/11/11/israel-hamas-war-gaza-palestine-live/#link-RABMZMGPRBAI5CZDYRIOQX2OAU . live .
  22. Web site: Kilbride . Erin . Van Esveld . Bill . Birth and Death Intertwined in Gaza Strip . Human Rights Watch . December 2023 . 2 December 2023 . 1 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231201231038/https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/12/01/birth-and-death-intertwined-gaza-strip . live .
  24. Web site: We call for an international investigation into the responsibility of the Israeli army for leaving 5 infants to die in Gaza . Euro-Med Monitor . ar . 29 November 2023 . 29 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129120513/https://euromedmonitor.org/ar/article/5985/%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%B9%D9%88-%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D9%82%D9%8A%D9%82-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A6%D9%88%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%83-5-%D8%A3%D8%B7%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B1%D8%B6%D8%B9-%D9%84%D9%84%D9%85%D9%88%D8%AA-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9 . live .
  25. Web site: MacDonald . Alex . Israel-Palestine war: Five dead premature babies discovered in Gaza hospital . Middle East Eye . 29 November 2023 . 29 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129215500/https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-palestine-war-gaza-dead-premature-babies-nasr-hospital . live .
  26. Web site: Israel Blasts 'Perverse Exploitation of Innocent Lives' After Story About Babies Found Dead in Gaza Hospital Circulates . The Algemeiner . 1 December 2023 . 1 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231201151824/https://www.algemeiner.com/2023/11/30/israel-blasts-perverse-exploitation-innocent-lives-story-babies-found-dead-gaza-hospital-circulates/ . live .
  27. News: Berger . Miriam . Hill . Evan . Balousha . Hazem . A Gaza hospital evacuated, four fragile lives and a grim discovery . The Washington Post . 4 December 2023 . 3 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231203192834/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/03/gaza-premature-babies-dead-nasr/ . live .
  28. Web site: Goodwin . Allegra . Infants found dead and decomposing in evacuated hospital ICU in Gaza. Here's what we know . CNN . 8 December 2023 . 18 December 2023 . 17 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231217000811/https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/08/middleeast/babies-al-nasr-gaza-hospital-what-we-know-intl/index.html . live .
  29. ICRC . ICRC. 1730247542149971971 . 30 November 2023. We have seen the footage circulating of deceased newborn babies and claims suggesting that ICRC left or abandoned these babies at the Al Nasr Hospital in northern Gaza. This is false. . en . 30 November 2023 . https://twitter.com/ICRC/status/1730247542149971971 .
  30. Web site: Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel Flash Update #69 . UNOCHA . 14 December 2023 . 16 December 2023.
  31. Web site: Press Summaries on the War on Gaza, November 22–25 . . 19 December 2023 . 19 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231219025507/https://www.palestine-studies.org/en/node/1654788 . live .
  32. Web site: Hospital in Rafah overcrowded with orphans, premature babies . Al Jazeera . 21 February 2024.
  33. Web site: Premature babies at risk as Gaza hospital struggles with limited resources, overcrowding . Al Jazeera . 23 February 2024.
  34. Web site: Farge . Emma . More premature babies born in Gaza due to stress, trauma -Oxfam . Reuters . 27 December 2023 . 2023-12-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231204221620/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/more-premature-babies-born-gaza-due-stress-trauma-oxfam-2023-11-23/ . live .
  35. Web site: Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel Flash Update #126 . ReliefWeb . 26 February 2024 . UNOCHA . 29 February 2024.
  36. Web site: Maternal and child health suffer under a decimated system . Doctors Without Borders . 28 July 2024.
  37. News: Gaza's IVF embryos destroyed by Israeli strike . 5 July 2024 . . 18 April 2024 . en.
  38. News: Gaza's IVF embryos destroyed: 5,000 lives likely lost in Israeli strike on clinic . 5 July 2024 . www.telegraphindia.com . 18 April 2024.
  39. News: Salem . Saleh . Creidi . Imad . Mills . Andrew . Gaza's IVF embryos destroyed by Israeli strike . 5 July 2024 . . en.
  40. News: '5,000 Lives in One Shell' - Israeli Strike Destroyed IVF Embryos in Gaza's Largest Fertility Clinic . 5 July 2024 . . 18 April 2024.
  41. News: '5,000 Lives in One Shell' - Israeli Strike Destroyed IVF Embryos in Gaza's Largest Fertility Clinic . 5 July 2024 . . Ghalayini said a single Israeli shell struck the corner of the center, blowing up the ground floor embryology lab. He does not know if the attack specifically targeted the lab or not.. 18 April 2024.

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