The chaos unleashed by the ongoing military campaign in Gaza has brought not only destruction but also profound personal loss to countless families yearning for parenthood. Noura, a 26-year-old woman from Gaza City, is one of those affected, having invested years in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments to finally find joy in her positive pregnancy test in July 2023. Sadly, her dreams of a family were violently interrupted by the outbreak of conflict on October 7, which resulted in devastating casualties and persistent chaos in the region.
As Israel initiated its military operations in response to a Hamas attack, Noura and her husband, Mohamed, were forced into constant relocation amidst terrifying bombardments. Fleeing their home time and again, they struggled to secure vital nutrition and medical care, essential to maintaining Noura's high-risk pregnancy. Tragically, after seven months of carrying twins, Noura suffered a miscarriage, exacerbated by their desperate circumstances.
Alongside their heartbreaking loss, Noura and Mohamed are now mourning their lost future after the Al-Basma Fertility Centre— where they had stored two additional frozen embryos— was destroyed in a recent shelling incident. The center's director, Dr. Baha Ghalayini, expressed sorrow for the thousands of embryos lost, emphasizing that these were not mere statistics but the shattered dreams of couples who went through immense hardships in hopes of conceiving.
The facility had housed nearly 4,000 frozen embryos and crucial sperm and egg samples, maintained in tanks requiring regular nitrogen refills. When a recent bombing prevented physicians from replenishing the nitrogen supply, the contents became unviable. Estimates suggest 100 to 150 women have lost their sole hope of motherhood, leaving many unable to undergo treatment again due to age or health conditions.
The United Nations has raised alarms over the ongoing destruction of fertility services, with accusations about the Israeli military targeting reproductive health centers and ultimately undermining the ability of Palestinians to have children. This has led to contentious debates over human rights, as Israeli officials vehemently deny any deliberate assault on fertility clinics and emphasize compliance with international humanitarian law.
Amid the rubble of Al-Basma and similar facilities, numerous women like Sara Khudari and Islam Lubbad—both recipients of fertility treatments—now find themselves confronting the empty space left by war. With all nine fertility clinics in Gaza rendered inoperable or destroyed, these women are left grappling with the harsh reality of loss, shattered dreams of a family, and an uncertain future, as the conflict continues to unfold with no resolution in sight.
