The Battle Within: Gaza's Brave Expectant Mothers Navigating Childbirth Amidst Conflict

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Khulood Khaled awoke to the sound of Israeli airstrikes last week while she slept beside her son. The room quickly filled with black smoke, making it hard for her to breathe. Overwhelmed by panic, she also experienced abdominal pain, fearing she might be going into premature labor.

The next day, the 28-year-old, who was eight months pregnant and concerned for the safety of her unborn child, made the brave decision to leave her residence in the al-Karama district of the northern Gaza Strip. As the bombing persisted, she recounted the harrowing experience of witnessing houses collapsing while driving, realizing that their lives were at risk every minute. Along the journey, she tragically witnessed refugees being targeted by Israeli jets in close proximity. Overwhelmed with fear, she clung tightly to her son, prepared to face whatever fate awaited them together.

Khulood finally arrived in Khan Younis, a southern city, where she struggles to survive on a single dry piece of bread due to the severe food shortage. With no access to electricity or running water, she worries if she will be able to find bread tomorrow. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimates that out of the approximately 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza, about 10% are expected to deliver their babies within the next month.

The death toll from Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip has climbed to approximately 2,750 since Hamas's deadly attack on southern Israel last week, reported the Gaza health ministry on October 16, 2023. Israel has also left around 9,700 people injured as it relentlessly continues its air campaign on various targets in the Palestinian coastal enclave. The ministry, which is under the control of Hamas, provided these figures. (Photo by SAID KHATIB / AFP) (Photo by SAID KHATIB/AFP via Getty Images)

Said Khatib/AFP/Getty Images

Israel-Hamas war rages as crisis deepens in Gaza

Dominic Allen, the UNFPA Representative for the State of Palestine, told CNN on Sunday that women in Gaza are facing a "double nightmare" following a "horrifying week" of Israeli airstrikes. In recent years, Gaza residents have experienced Israeli airstrikes in multiple clashes. However, this time is distinct as Israel has threatened "mighty vengeance" in response to an attack by Hamas militants on October 7, which resulted in the death of 1,400 people in Israel.

From October 7 to 12, Israel launched 6,000 bombs on the enclave, surpassing the total airstrikes conducted on Gaza throughout the entire 50-day Gaza-Israel conflict in 2014. There are indications that Israel is currently making preparations for a ground operation in the enclave.

In addition to this, Israel has implemented a "complete siege" on the region, cutting off the supply of essential resources such as water, electricity, goods, and fuel. This action has been widely criticized by human rights organizations as an act of "collective punishment" and a violation of international law. Locals report that Khan Younis is still being subjected to Israeli airstrikes.

Many Gazans have responded to Israel's evacuation request for the northern Gaza region by relocating to the south. However, certain individuals such as the sick, elderly, and pregnant have faced challenges in the process of moving.

Concerns have arisen regarding the safety of the escape routes, particularly after CNN verified and geolocated videos showing a significant explosion occurring on Friday along a route leading south.

Fear of what the future holds

Nardeen Fares, who is expecting her first child, is currently in the ninth month of her pregnancy. In response to the Israeli military's evacuation announcement for civilians, the 27-year-old, along with her husband, embarked on a journey from Gaza City's al-Rimal neighborhood to Khan Younis, located approximately 16 miles away or a 40-minute drive.

Approaching her impending due date, Fares expresses apprehension about what lies ahead.

"In the present moment, there is a significant migration... around 50% of the Gaza Strip inhabitants are relocating to Khan Younis," Fares conveyed to CNN on Friday over the phone. Furthermore, she mentioned that she is currently residing in a 6-bedroom residence alongside over 80 other individuals.

Fares, a woman in her final month of pregnancy, is uncertain about the timing and circumstances of her delivery due to the unpredictable situation. She worries that the hospitals in Khan Younis may not have adequate resources to provide her with necessary medical care, considering the overwhelming influx of people into the city. Prior to the war, Khan Younis had a population of slightly over 400,000, but now, being close to the Egyptian border, it has become the preferred destination for many evacuees from the north.

Nardeen Fares, 27, takes a selfie with her husband at Gaza Port, near Gaza City, in the Gaza Strip in May 2023.

Nardeen Fares

Israel on Sunday said that 500,000 residents are estimated to have left northern Gaza for the south.

According to doctors at Nasser Hospital in the city, a single family consisting of ten individuals tragically lost their lives on Monday due to an Israeli airstrike in the Al Kizan neighborhood. Additionally, 23 others sustained injuries. The dire situation in the city is further exacerbated by a fuel shortage, resulting in limited functioning of hospitals and an almost complete absence of medical services.

The entire strip's health system is on the verge of collapse, as highlighted by a recent warning from the World Health Organization. This precarious situation is particularly concerning for the most vulnerable individuals, such as those who require life-saving surgeries, patients in intensive care units, and newborns relying on care provided by incubators. According to Allen from the UNFPA, pregnant women in Gaza are confronting unimaginable difficulties, and the narratives emerging from the region are disturbing.

"Picture experiencing those final stages of pregnancy, with potential complications, in your last trimester, without access to clothing, proper hygiene, support, and with uncertainty about what the future holds for both you and your unborn child," Allen expressed.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has issued a severe warning about the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed on Sunday that the Middle East was teetering on the edge of catastrophe.

Brink of famine

Mona Ashour, seven months pregnant, has stayed in the north of the Strip, but not by choice.

According to her cousin Hashem Al-Saudi, she revealed that her family lacks the financial resources to travel south. Additionally, even if they were able to go, they have no one to accommodate them there. As a result of Israel's blockade, Ashour has been forced to limit her nutrition to the bare essentials as food and water supplies continue to diminish. This alarming situation is causing her significant stress, particularly because she is concerned about the potential impact on her unborn child.

Ashour has two daughters and their house has a temporary tin panel roof, which puts them at risk of shrapnel from possible Israeli missiles. She mentioned that they require several nutritional supplements, but her husband, who used to earn a daily wage, can no longer afford them.

According to the media office of the Palestinian Authority, Gaza is facing a severe food shortage as supplies in stores are running out and no assistance is reaching the region. They also reported that more than half a million individuals have been forced to leave their homes in the enclave. Relief organizations and the United Nations are urging for the delivery of aid to Gaza. Although some aid has reached Egypt's north Sinai, it is still awaiting clearance to cross into Gaza through the Egypt-controlled Rafah crossing.

Palestinians who fled their houses amid Israeli strikes shelter at a United Nations-run school in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday.

Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters

Streets 'reek of blood:' Gazans run out of time after Israel's evacuation deadline

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced during his visit to the region and meeting with the Egyptian president that the crossing, which serves as the only passage in and out of Gaza, will be open. However, no specific timeframe was mentioned. In a concerning development, concrete slabs have been placed on the Egyptian side of the crossing, effectively blocking all gates, according to a Palestinian border official who spoke to CNN on Saturday.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry declared on Monday that there has been no significant advancement in the ongoing endeavors to initiate the opening of the crossing and firmly held Israel responsible for its persistent closure.

Expressing her concerns, Khulood, who escaped from northern Gaza, revealed her uncertainty about her destination when the time comes for her to deliver her baby.

"I'm filled with fear. Not just for my son, my unborn child, and myself," she expressed to CNN. "The fear of death consumes me. I yearn to witness my son's growth... but there is no longer any hope in this desolate place. Gaza has transformed into a hauntingly vacant city."

Reported by Kareem Khadder, Abeer Salman, Chloe Liu, and Niamh Kennedy.

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