Key facts
- Miscarriage rates in Gaza have surged dramatically since October 2023.
- Health officials attribute the rise in miscarriages to the ongoing conflict.
- Malnutrition, contaminated water, and exposure to toxic dust from bombings are cited as causes for increased miscarriages.
- Many women in Gaza cannot reach medical facilities.
- The UN's human rights office warns of escalating settler violence in the West Bank.
- The UN urges international action against Palestinian killings and settlement expansion.
- A political process is deemed impossible while Gaza is devastated and West Bank violence rises.
Health officials in Gaza report a dramatic surge in miscarriage rates since October 2023, attributing the increase to the ongoing conflict. Factors contributing to this rise include widespread malnutrition, contaminated water sources, and exposure to toxic dust resulting from bombings. Many pregnant women are unable to reach medical facilities due to the war conditions, which likely leads to an undercounting of the true scale of the crisis.
In parallel, the UN's human rights office has issued a warning regarding escalating settler violence in the West Bank. The office is urging international action to address Palestinian killings and the expansion of settlements. According to the UN, a viable political process is currently impossible due to the severe devastation in Gaza and the continuous rise in violence within the West Bank.