Israel’s ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza has triggered and escalated an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, deliberately inflicting life-threatening conditions on more than two million Palestinians, with particularly severe and far-reaching consequences on Palestinian women. Nothing, nowhere, and no one has been spared from Israel’s relentless genocidal military campaign unleashed on Gaza and its people.

Over the past 16 months, Israeli forces have systematically targeted vital civilian infrastructure and residential areas throughout all of Gaza. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, as of 6 January 2025, over 45,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, including approximately 12,000 women. In addition to the hundreds of thousands of Palestinian deaths and injuries directly caused by the use of deadly force, since 9 October 2023, Gaza has been under a total siege imposed by the Israeli government, drastically restricting the entry of food, fuel, medical supplies, and other resources essential for the physical survival of the population. Pregnant women and mothers of newborns have been disproportionately impacted by this genocidal policy. Al Mezan’s new thematic report, ‘Reproductive Health Under Genocide’, delves into the multifaceted challenges faced by Palestinian women in Gaza amid the ongoing genocide and highlights the devastating impact of Israel’s genocidal policies on the reproductive rights and health of Palestinian women.
This report examines the near-total disruption of maternal healthcare directly caused by Israel’s destruction of hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies, compounded by the lack of medical supplies, equipment, and electricity. Women—especially pregnant and nursing mothers—are deprived of critical antenatal, postnatal, and obstetric care, as well as essential nutritional support and hygiene products, putting their lives at grave risk. Topics covered include the catastrophic effects of malnutrition on pregnant and postpartum women, the rise in premature births, and the challenges of giving birth during a genocide. The report also highlights the shortage of medical supplies and laboratory services, emphasizing the impact on both physical and psychological health, as women endure fear, insecurity, and the loss of dignity in precarious living conditions.
This report is based on the collection of firsthand accounts and expert observations. It includes testimonies and interviews with victims, eyewitnesses, doctors, and other healthcare practitioners who have directly experienced or witnessed the violation of reproductive rights against Palestinian women in Gaza. Additionally, the report reflects the lived experiences of Al Mezan’s female staff in Gaza, who have both endured and documented these conditions. This comprehensive approach provides a detailed and accurate representation of the challenges faced by Palestinian women in Gaza.