4,000 Miscarriages Recorded in Gaza Strip in First Half of 2026

A medical official in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday expressed alarm over a sharp increase in miscarriage cases in the enclave, with 4,000 cases recorded in the first half of 2026. Bassam Zaqout, director of medical aid in the Gaza Strip, said in a radio interview that the unprecedented surge was triggered by poor living conditions, including pregnant women having to travel on unpaved roads using crowded and unsafe transport, constant fear of Israeli bombardment, sleeping on the ground, and a lack of hot water and hygiene supplies. The spread of skin diseases and unhygienic conditions in displacement camps have also contributed to the crisis. Zaqout warned that the health crisis is worsening due to a severe shortage of medicines, equipment, and medical supplies, with the health sector now operating in emergency conditions because of restrictions and a blockade on the entry of essential resources, diagnostic equipment, and laboratory reagents. He also reported a widespread outbreak of infectious diseases and viral infections, particularly among refugees, with thousands of chickenpox cases recorded weekly alongside an increase in respiratory infections and watery diarrhoea caused by contaminated water. Zaqout added that the reduced flow of humanitarian aid, food supplies, and hygiene materials in recent months has further exacerbated conditions in overcrowded displacement camps.