Born during Israel’s genocide: Gaza’s child survivors bear the scars of war | Israel-Palestine conflict
Gaza Children Encounter Severe Health Challenges Amid Ongoing Conflict
Nour Abu Samaan was born on October 7, 2023, just hours before a war erupted in the Gaza Strip. Her arrival brought joy to her mother, Samar Hammad, but the happiness was fleeting.
The following day, as Nour rested in her mother’s arms, nearby Israeli airstrikes triggered chaos. Amidst smoke and toxic gases, Nour struggled to breathe. Samar recalled, “My daughter suddenly choked in my hands. Her color turned blue, her eyes rolled back, and she lost all movement.”
Medical professionals later diagnosed Nour with paralysis due to inhaling toxic fumes. At only two days old, her prognosis shifted from that of a newborn to a critically ill patient, marking the beginning of a challenging journey for the family.
Escaping the Siege
Samar spent the next month in the intensive care unit (ICU) at al-Nasr Children’s Hospital in northern Gaza, where the violence intensified. As attacks escalated, the hospital came under siege, compelling the family to evacuate. Samar managed to get Nour out just before the hospital was bombed. Subsequently, Nour became the sole survivor of the ICU, where other infants were left behind. After Israeli forces stormed the facility, life-support systems were disconnected, leading to tragic losses.
Nour’s father, Othman Abu Samaan, now 42, continues to grapple with the emotional toll of their ordeal. Nour experiences severe stiffness in her limbs, making basic movements nearly impossible. “We have tried repeatedly to make her sit, but she cannot,” Othman said.
Officials in Gaza reported a sharp increase in similar cases. Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the Ministry of Health’s Information Unit, stated that around 1,200 children in Gaza are now suffering from spinal cord injuries and paralysis linked to the violence.
Struggles of Another Family
Six-month-old Misk al-Jarou has faced health challenges since birth. She was born without clear joints in her hands and feet after her mother, Warda al-Jarou, endured ongoing exposure to toxic gases during pregnancy. Misk’s twin sibling did not survive.
Warda expressed distress over her daughter’s condition, noting, “Misk is in so much pain, and every day I feel her condition getting harder.” Her experiences reflect a broader trend, as a surge of congenital deformities has been reported in Gaza. In 2025 alone, 322 cases were recorded, double the pre-war rate. Health officials attribute this increase to factors like malnutrition, toxic exposure, and the collapse of prenatal care.
Demographic Shifts in Gaza
The ongoing conflict has caused significant demographic changes in Gaza, resulting in negative population growth for the first time. In 2024, birth rates fell by 38 percent, followed by an additional decrease of 13 percent in 2025. The Ministry of Health recorded over 4,000 premature deliveries and more than 4,800 low birth-weight babies last year. Tragically, 457 infants died within their first week of life in 2025.
Pain and Recovery
In western Gaza City, Ramez Abu Hajeela is seen struggling to help his two-year-old son, Mohammed, wear a pressure mask. Following an Israeli airstrike on their school shelter on July 3, 2025, Mohammed sustained third-degree burns across 18 percent of his body. He now requires compression therapy for 20 hours a day. Ramez noted, “When he wakes up, we feed him and prepare him for the coming hours of torment.” Mohammed is among approximately 1,000 children in Gaza facing severe injuries or amputations.
Health officials warn that urgent medical evacuations are critical for children like Nour, Misk, and Mohammed. Approximately 4,000 children currently need immediate treatment outside Gaza. The Rafah crossing, the only exit point, has been heavily restricted by Israeli authorities. Presently, over 20,000 patients await travel for medical care, yet only 154 children have been allowed to leave since partial reopening in February.
“Every day the Rafah crossing remains closed, we lose lives,” al-Waheidi stated. “More than 470 children have already died while waiting for a chance to be saved.”
