Yevheniia Khoroshun contributed to this report.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported Tuesday that pregnant women in Gaza face disproportionate harm from the Israel-Gaza conflict. The report said that women in Palestine face “extraordinary challenges” in finding safe places to give birth even when they face a high-risk delivery due to food insecurity.
HRW traces complications in pregnancies to the poor quality of health care and sanitation during the conflict as data show that 68 percent of women experienced medical complications in March 2024. According to the report:
As of January 2025, emergency obstetric and newborn care is only available at seven out of 18 partially functioning hospitals across Gaza, four out of 11 field hospitals, and one community health center, compared to a total of 20 hospitals and other smaller healthcare facilities that functioned before October 7, 2023
Apart from the poor quality of medical care, Israel’s blockade of Gaza has exacerbated food insecurity and further implicated pregnant mothers’ rights. The report cited that nearly 133,000 people faced catastrophic or famine-levels of food insecurity, and 664,000 faced emergency levels of shortages as of October 2024.
Ending the report, HRW urges Israel to cease attacks on civilians and facilities, restore citizens’ access to electricity, water and telecommunications, facilitate the restoration of health care and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid.
The blockade warfare is a violation of international humanitarian law. HRW described the blockade’s restriction of food, water, electricity and fuel as collective punishment of Gaza’s population. Article 55 of the Fourth Geneva Convention 1949 specifically requires the Occupying Power to ensure the food and medical supplies of the population and to not requisite foodstuffs, articles or medical supplies available in the occupied territory. According to Rome Statute Article 8(2)(b)(xxv), the intentional use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare and the wilful impediment of relief supplies amounts to a war crime.
The present report adds to a chorus of organizations accusing Israel of rights violations during its Gaza offensive. For example, in May 2024, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt its offensive over concerns about genocide. In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Presently, Israel and Hamas are operating under a ceasefire passed through Israel’s cabinet on January 17, 2025. It remains to be seen the extent to which the ceasefire mitigates the harms the HRW report discusses.
