"My nerves are shattered," says Noura, a 26-year-old Palestinian woman, explaining that she has been "left with nothing". After years of IVF treatment, she became pregnant in July 2023. "I was overjoyed," she remembers, describing the moment she saw the positive pregnancy test. She and her husband Mohamed decided to store two more embryos at Al-Basma Fertility Centre in Gaza City, which had helped them conceive, in the hope of having more children in the future. "I thought my dream had finally come true," she says. "But the day the Israelis came in, something in me said it was all over."
Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas's cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, resulting in the loss of approximately 1,200 lives and a hostage crisis involving 251 individuals. Since then, more than 54,000 people have died in Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry. Noura and Mohamed, like thousands of other Gazans, faced constant displacement, making it difficult for her to get the necessary nourishment and medical support for a healthy pregnancy.
"We used to walk for long hours and move constantly from one place to another, amid terrifying random bombings," Mohamed recounts. Seven months into her pregnancy, Noura experienced a severe hemorrhage. "She was bleeding heavily, and we couldn't even find a vehicle to take her to the hospital. We finally managed to transport her in a garbage truck," explains Mohamed. Tragically, one of their twins was stillborn, and the other died shortly after birth due to lack of available care.
As if this heartbreak were not enough, Noura and Mohamed have also lost their frozen embryos. The director of Al-Basma Fertility Centre, Dr. Baha Ghalayini, shares his deep sorrow over the destruction of the clinic, which was shelled in early December 2023. He estimates that around 4,000 frozen embryos and over 1,000 samples of sperm and eggs were lost due to the attack.
Dr. Ghalayini describes the urgency surrounding the preservation of these samples, stating that they required constant maintenance of liquid nitrogen. Unfortunately, as the conflict worsened, access to necessary resources became impossible, resulting in a catastrophic loss for many families.
He explains that between 100 and 150 women, including those who are older or suffering from chronic illnesses, may have lost their only chance at parenthood. "These are not just numbers, they're people's dreams," he laments.
The Israel Defense Forces were approached for a comment but responded that they would be better able to provide one if more specifics regarding the timing of the strike were available. They claimed to operate within the framework of international law and to take steps to minimize civilian harm. An earlier UN report accused Israel of intentionally attacking the fertility clinic, an allegation met with vehement denial from Israeli officials reiterating their commitment to operational integrity.
Dr. Ghalayini highlights that all nine fertility clinics in Gaza have either been destroyed or rendered non-operational. For women like Noura and Sara Khudari, whose treatments were interrupted by the conflict, the future remains uncertain. "I watched everything collapse," says Sara, who was prepared for her embryo implantation when war broke out.
Islam Lubbad, who also lost her pregnancy and frozen embryos, points to the instability wrought by the conflict, stating, "My body was exhausted." With no IVF clinics operational, hope for many has faded, leaving the dreams of parenthood in tatters for countless families in Gaza amidst an unrelenting crisis.
