‘The dream I carried is gone’: Miscarriages rise amid trauma of Gaza’s war

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza that doctors and patients are describing a sharp rise in miscarriages and other pregnancy losses during Israel’s war and blockade of the territory. In a July 28, 2026 feature, the outlet cites medical staff at al-Awda Hospital, where maternity director Dr Yasser Saadeddine said about 70 percent of pregnancy losses treated by his team are associated with wartime conditions, including hunger, displacement, poor sanitation, environmental contamination and lack of care.

The report centers on Nuha Abu Lebda, who said she lost three pregnancies after repeated displacement, air strikes, malnutrition, unsafe water and limited access to medical services. Other women described stillbirth, premature delivery, emergency childbirth during bombardment and babies requiring incubators while families were forced to move. Al Jazeera also reported accounts of women losing medical records, missing routine check-ups and being unable to reach hospitals or ambulances during fighting.

According to the hospital staff cited, miscarriages are part of a wider maternal and newborn health crisis that includes more fetal deaths, premature births and dangerous complications. The article links the trend to the broader collapse of Gaza’s health system under bombardment, shortages of medicine and equipment, and severe psychological strain on pregnant women.

The findings matter because they point to long-term health consequences of the war beyond immediate casualties. Al Jazeera frames the pregnancy losses as an ongoing crisis for Gaza families, even after a reported October ceasefire reduced some fighting, with doctors saying the effects of displacement, malnutrition and damaged medical infrastructure continue to shape pregnancy outcomes.