Background on the Situation in Gaza
Ginebra. Israel has repeatedly denied permission to transport incubators from an evacuated hospital in northern Gaza, according to a UNICEF official, exacerbating pressure on overcrowded hospitals in the south where premature babies now share oxygen masks and beds.
Impact of the Conflict on Newborns
Two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas have increased stress and malnutrition among pregnant women, leading to a rise in premature and low-birth-weight babies. According to the World Health Organization, these vulnerable newborns now account for a fifth of all infants born in Gaza.
Hospital Closures and Overcrowding
A recent Israeli assault on the northern Gaza city has shut down hospitals in that area, worsening overcrowding in the remaining open hospitals in the south.
UNICEF’s Efforts and Israeli Response
James Elder, UNICEF spokesperson, described the desperate situation at the Nasser hospital in southern Gaza, where mothers and babies crowded hallways, and premature infants shared oxygen masks and beds. Meanwhile, crucial equipment remains trapped in closed hospitals in the north.
“We have attempted to retrieve incubators from an evacuated hospital in the north, but were denied four missions just to secure those incubators,” Elder stated via video conference from Gaza, referring to supplies now blocked in the damaged Al-Rantissi Pediatric Hospital in Gaza City.
At a hospital he visited in the south, Elder observed three babies and their mothers sharing a single bed, along with one oxygen source, rotating it 20 minutes for each infant. “This is the level of desperation mothers have reached,” he said.
The COGAT, Israel’s military branch overseeing aid flows, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on UNICEF’s statements. Israel claims it is committed to allowing aid deliveries in Gaza but must control them to prevent theft by Hamas, which it blames for the crisis.
UN and Hamas Perspectives
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that Israel has denied or obstructed 45% of its 8,000 humanitarian missions requested within Gaza since October 7, 2023.
UNICEF has called for the evacuation of sick and premature infants in northern Gaza hospitals. WHO transferred three such infants to a southern hospital last week, but one died before the mission. Currently, only 14 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals operate partially or not at all, according to WHO.
Unmet Demands
Hamas stated yesterday that it aims to reach an agreement ending the war based on President Donald Trump’s plan but highlighted that it still has a series of demands, suggesting indirect talks with Israel in Egypt could be challenging and lengthy.
The negotiations appear most promising so far to end a war that has left tens of thousands of Palestinians dead and devastated Gaza since the October 7, 2023 attack against Israel, resulting in 1,200 deaths and 251 being taken as hostages to Gaza.
Trump mentioned a “real possibility” of reaching an agreement to end the war.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main issue? Israel’s denial of permission to transport incubators from an evacuated hospital in northern Gaza, leading to overcrowding and sharing of essential resources like oxygen masks and beds in southern hospitals.
- Who is affected? Premature babies in Gaza, with a rise in their numbers due to conflict-related stress and malnutrition among pregnant women.
- What is the response from UN and Hamas? The UN reports that Israel has obstructed humanitarian missions, while Hamas has unmet demands for an agreement based on Trump’s plan.
- What is the current status of hospitals in Gaza? Only 14 out of 36 hospitals are partially or not operating due to the ongoing crisis.
