‘Lives cut short’: Gaza’s surging miscarriage crisis

Gaza's miscarriage crisis surged in the first half of 2026, with nearly 4,000 pregnancy losses recorded, more than triple the previous half-year. Doctors link the rise to displacement, hunger, and healthcare collapse. A woman from Rafah shares her story of losing a long-awaited pregnancy.

Gaza is experiencing a sharp rise in miscarriages, with the Palestinian Health Ministry recording nearly 4,000 pregnancy losses in the first six months of 2026, peaking at 920 in April. This is more than triple the approximately 1,200 miscarriages recorded in the second half of 2025. The birthrate also fell by 3.2 percent during the same period. Doctors attribute the surge to the dire conditions of displacement, hunger, bombardment, and the collapse of the healthcare system. Rima Salama, a 27-year-old from Rafah, lost her pregnancy in July after five years of trying, citing the war's conditions. Dr. Maher Farwana at Nasser Medical Complex notes that over half of pregnant women are anemic, and many suffer from high blood pressure or gestational diabetes. The ceasefire of October 2025 has done little to improve conditions, with continued bombardment and restricted medical supplies.