Women and girls in the Gaza Strip are facing life-threatening conditions after more than two years of genocidal war, according to a new report by Amnesty International. The organisation says the destruction of medical infrastructure and severe restrictions on humanitarian aid have left Palestinian women exposed to worsening health risks, particularly during pregnancy and childbirth. In its findings, the group argues that the cumulative impact of the war has driven many women to the “edge of catastrophe”.

The report, based on interviews conducted in February with dozens of displaced women and healthcare professionals, paints a bleak picture of a healthcare system struggling to function. Medical workers describe a sharp rise in maternal and neonatal complications as hospitals operate with minimal resources. According to data cited from the World Health Organization, nearly 60 percent of health facilities in Gaza are no longer functioning, while neonatal units are operating far beyond capacity, forcing doctors to treat multiple newborns in a single incubator.

Shortages of medicines and equipment have deepened the crisis. Almost half of essential drugs are unavailable, leaving doctors to improvise treatments and reuse medical supplies meant for single use. The collapse of basic services is compounded by growing malnutrition among women, with estimates from the United Nations indicating that tens of thousands of pregnant and breastfeeding women could face acute malnutrition in the coming months.

Many displaced mothers describe enduring pregnancy and recovery in overcrowded tents lacking sanitation, heating or clean air. Chronic illness patients are also severely affected, with thousands requiring urgent medical evacuation. Yet evacuation procedures have largely halted following the closure of border crossings, including Rafah Crossing, after the regional escalation involving Iran earlier this year.

Despite a ceasefire agreement announced in October 2025, violence has continued across the Gaza Strip, further worsening humanitarian conditions. Palestinian health authorities report hundreds of additional deaths since the agreement, including women and children. In response to what it describes as cascading humanitarian failures, Amnesty International is calling on governments worldwide to increase diplomatic pressure to end the blockade and ensure access to medical care for Gaza’s civilian population.