War halts IVF treatment in Gaza; parents mourn 'miracle' children
What's the story
The ongoing war in Gaza has resulted in the loss of many lives, including children born through In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment.
Parents who struggled with infertility for years are mourning the loss of their children, who they considered personal miracles, the Guardian reported.
The war has also disrupted IVF treatment for numerous women due to the Gaza siege and the obliteration of thousands of frozen embryos.
Treatment disruption
War halts IVF treatments; destroys thousands of frozen embryos
On October 7, nearly 50 women were in the middle of hormone injection cycles at al-Basma Center when their treatment was interrupted by the war.
According to Baha al-Ghalayini, the center's founder and a Gaza IVF pioneer, another 10 were preparing for embryo transfers within days.
In November 2023, an Israeli shell struck the clinic's lab, obliterating all the frozen embryos. The blast ruptured the containers holding many couples' first, last, or only opportunity to have a child.
Clinic attack
Clinic's lab hit by Israeli shell
The clinic had approximately 4,000 frozen embryos in storage, at least half of which belonged to couples who will not be able to undergo treatment to create new ones.
Ghalayini said, "Embryo freezing represents a profound emotional and financial investment for couples trying to realize their dream of parenthood."
He added, "The attack shattered all their dreams."
Pregnancy risks
War impacts pregnant women; thousands give birth without medical aid
At the onset of the war, 250 women who had conceived through IVF and required monitoring were left unattended.
Many of these women faced higher risks of complicated births but had to cope alone as Israeli airstrikes forced most hospitals in Gaza to shut down.
The United Nations reported that thousands of women are giving birth without medical assistance, leading to fatalities among mothers and newborns.
Background
Israel-Hamas conflict
The conflict in Gaza started on October 7 after Hamas terrorists killed over 1,200 people and took approximately 250 hostages taken from Israel into Gaza.
Israel's response was swift, declaring war on Hamas and launching an intense campaign of bombardment followed by a ground invasion.
Over 35,000 Gazans have been killed in the ongoing conflict.