Gaza Women Face Severe Health Crisis Amid War, While Israeli Forces Target Palestinian Media Outlet in West Bank

Gaza Women Face Severe Health Crisis Amid War, While Israeli Forces Target Palestinian Media Outlet in West Bank
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Pregnant women and newborns in Gaza are facing a deepening humanitarian and health crisis as the war continues, with thousands of reported pregnancy complications, miscarriages and premature births, while Israeli forces have also carried out raids and closures targeting Palestinian institutions in the occupied West Bank.

A report by the UK-based Palestine Return Centre, titled “Pregnancy Under Fire: Violence Against Reproduction in Gaza and the Destruction of Mothers’ Lives,” highlighted the severe impact of the conflict on pregnant women, nursing mothers and infants. The report, based on data from UN health agencies and humanitarian organizations, warned that the effects of malnutrition, trauma and displacement could affect the health and development of an entire generation of children.

According to the report, around 55,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women in Gaza were expected to face serious malnutrition risks by mid-2026. It also stated that one in five babies born in Gaza is either premature or has a low birth weight, while maternity healthcare services have been severely disrupted. Of Gaza’s 37 hospitals, only 20 were reportedly operating at limited capacity, with none functioning fully.

The report cited medical concerns over rising miscarriage rates, saying nearly 4,000 miscarriage cases were recorded during the first half of 2026. It also highlighted research involving newborns requiring specialized care, which found that most of their mothers had experienced malnutrition during pregnancy, with high rates of premature births and low birth weights among their infants.

Meanwhile, in the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces raided the office of the “Huda Quran Radio” station in Qalqilya, confiscated equipment and ordered the closure of the station, according to local reports. Israeli authorities reportedly accused the organization of involvement in and support for “terrorism,” while details regarding the duration of the closure and the seized equipment remained unclear.

The raid was part of wider Israeli military operations in several West Bank areas, including Nablus, Tulkarem, Jenin and Yatta, during which around 10 Palestinians were reportedly detained.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported more than 1,330 incidents of settler-related violence in the occupied West Bank since the beginning of 2026, including attacks that resulted in Palestinian deaths, injuries and property damage. Palestinian homes, mosques, agricultural lands and other facilities have been among the sites targeted in acts of vandalism and arson, according to humanitarian reports.