Gaza children born prematurely amid conflict
Nursery wards for premature babies at Al-Tahrir Hospital in Naser Medical Complex in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip have experienced unprecedented overcrowding— the highest since the department was established in 2000—due to rising rates of preterm births caused by severe malnutrition among pregnant women. On September 4, 2026, the hospital received ten newborns simultaneously, bringing the total number of cases to 54 infants— a 200% increase beyond capacity— amid a severe shortage of medications and oxygen. Pediatrician Dr. Darweesh Abu Al-Khair explained that the increase in premature births, congenital malformations linked to war, hunger, and delayed maternal health, has led to overcrowding in the neonatal wards, with hospital management compelled to place multiple children in a single incubator. The ongoing deterioration of the humanitarian situation is further worsened by the destruction of respiratory and oxygen devices, and the health crisis in the sector is increasingly threatening due to Israeli escalation and the lack of adequate care.
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