7 babies born amid bombings while 5 children die every hour in Gaza

ANKARA

Since Oct. 7, Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip have resulted in the death of five children per hour, while an average of seven babies are born between bombings.

While its attacks on the Gaza Strip have been intensifying despite international criticism, Israel persists in targeting hospitals.

Anadolu compiles updates on children killed, newborns, and hospital-treated in Israel's Gaza attacks.

Israel's relentless attacks on hospitals like Al-Shifa, Indonesia, Al-Nasr Children's, Rantisi Children's, Al-Avde Children's, and Jerusalem, or their surroundings, result in numerous deaths among the injured, children, and those seeking refuge due to the hospitals going out of service.

According to the Gaza government, since Oct. 7, Israel's attacks have resulted in the deaths of 11,500 people in the Gaza Strip, including 4,710 children and 3,160 women. This means that, on average, 5 children lose their lives every hour due to Israel's attacks in Gaza.

In a statement from the UK-based non-governmental organization Save The Children, it was highlighted that the number of children killed in Palestine surpasses those who lost their lives worldwide due to conflicts in 2020, 2021, and 2022.

It shows that approximately 15% of women giving birth in Gaza are "likely" to experience complications related to pregnancy or childbirth.

Save the Children predicts over 66,000 births in Gaza this year, with 5,500 expected next month amid a period of deprivation of basic necessities. Clean water is scarce, and shortages of food and medicine persist. Hospitals and health facilities, already facing challenges, are under attack, posing a severe threat to thousands, including pregnant women and newborns, it said in a statement.

Over 180 babies born daily in Gaza

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) announced, based on data from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), that there are 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza, with over 180 giving birth every day.

Amid Israel's ongoing air and ground attacks on Gaza, an average of 7 babies are born per hour under bombardment.
Every 10 minutes, a child is killed in Gaza, with 1.5 million displaced and in search of shelter, as stated by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Ghebreyesus stresses rising health risks in Gaza due to crowding, citing 9,000 undergoing cancer treatment and 350,000 with heart, diabetes, and hypertension conditions."

Hospitals are losing function

Attacks have left hospitals unable to care for and treat newborns born amidst the violence.

18 out of 35 hospitals in Gaza with thousands of injured and civilians are now non-operational due to repeated attacks, Al-Shifa Hospital, under heavy Israeli bombardment, lacks essential services for its 600 injured and sick patients, putting them at risk of imminent death.

Earlier, Al-Shifa Hospital's Head of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ahmed Abu Neda, described the situation in the hospital as a complete disaster. He mentioned that a significant number of doctors had left the hospital due to the bombings, but some continued to stay to assist the wounded.

Due to limited resources and many injuries, Abu Neda stated that doctors must choose and treat only 1 out of 10 injured individuals, leaving the others to their fate.

Babies in hospitals face life-threatening risks

Children harmed in attacks, along with newborns needing hospital care, can't access necessary treatment.

"Al-Shifa Hospital's Obstetrician Fadia Malhis told Anadolu that the hospital lacks electricity, and the situation of babies in the incubators in the intensive care unit has reached a critically dangerous level.

In the Intensive Care Unit, there are 60 babies, with 39 on ventilators, and one baby died in the afternoon. More are expected to pass away consecutively, Malhis said.

Malhis, stating that the Israeli army has surrounded the hospital, said, "They shoot anyone trying to leave the hospital. If someone moves between units, they shoot them here, too. There are many casualties in the courtyard in front of the emergency room. The situation is very bad and dangerous, beyond description.

Gaza is becoming graveyard for children, according to UNICEF

UNICEF spokesman James Elder expressed concern earlier this week over child deaths in Gaza amid Israel's intense attacks.

Elder stresses concern over the increasing child deaths in Gaza, describing it as a graveyard for children amid ongoing conflicts.

He reiterates UNICEF's call for a ceasefire and continuous humanitarian aid to Gaza, stressing that children are dying not just from bombings but also due to a lack of essential medical care."

Since Oct. 7, at least 11,500 Palestinians have been killed, including over 7,800 women and children, and more than 29,200 others have been injured, according to the latest figures from Palestinian authorities.

Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques, and churches, have also been damaged or destroyed in Israel's relentless air and ground attacks on the besieged enclave.

The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is around 1,200, according to official figures.