Gaza Herald _ Gaza is witnessing an unprecedented public-health tragedy unfolding not on the battlefield, but inside hospital delivery rooms and makeshift clinics. According to Zaher Al-Wuhaidi, Director of the Health Information Department at Gaza’s Ministry of Health, the year 2025 saw a shocking surge in premature births, birth defects, and infant deaths, on a scale never recorded before the war.
Official data shows that in 2025, Gaza recorded 48,500 births, resulting in 49,180 newborns. Among them, 4,900 infants were born with abnormally low or unhealthy birth weights, and 4,000 babies were born prematurely, conditions that place them at extreme risk of death and lifelong disability.
Rising Birth Defects and Infant Loss
Even more alarming, health authorities documented 315 infants born with congenital deformities, including heart defects, bladder malformations, and other serious conditions that severely limit survival and quality of life.
The crisis did not stop there. Throughout the year, Gaza also recorded 616 stillbirths and approximately 5,000 miscarriages before the 24th week of pregnancy, pointing to widespread fetal loss on a massive scale. In addition, 450 newborns died within their first week of life, overwhelmed by illness, physical weakness, and the absence of adequate medical care.
“These numbers are not normal,” Al-Wuhaid i said. “The increase in birth defects and premature deliveries has exceeded 60 percent compared to normal rates. We never witnessed anything like this before the war, certainly not in 2022.”
War Conditions Poison Pregnancy
Health officials in Gaza directly link this catastrophe to the ongoing war and the conditions it has created. Pregnant women have been exposed to toxic dust and rocket propellant residues left in the air after bombardments. At the same time, severe malnutrition and famine have deprived mothers of the nutrients essential for healthy fetal development.
The collapse of sanitation systems has further compounded the crisis. Sewage flooding, contaminated water, and the lack of basic hygiene have sharply increased the risk of infection and pregnancy complications. For thousands of displaced women living in overcrowded tents, these dangers multiply daily, turning pregnancy into a life-threatening ordeal.
A Generational Catastrophe
What Gaza is facing today is not only a humanitarian disaster, but a generational one. The war has reached into the womb, shaping the lives of children before they take their first breath. As doctors struggle with shattered hospitals and minimal supplies, an entire generation is being born into trauma, illness, and loss, long before they can speak, walk, or even open their eyes.
