The devastating consequences of Israel’s war in Gaza have pushed women and girls “to the brink,” Amnesty International warned on Tuesday, denouncing an unprecedented collapse of the Palestinian health system.
In a report published after 29 months of conflict, the human rights organization emphasizes that Palestinian women are suffering “aggravated and potentially fatal” harm.
These sufferings are exacerbated by mass displacement, lack of food, and Israeli restrictions on humanitarian aid.
The NGO's secretary general, Agnès Callamard, denounced a "systematic erosion" of their rights.
She denounced a "deliberate act of war targeting women and girls", which, according to the organization, is part of the "genocide" perpetrated in the Palestinian enclave.
This alarming finding is based on interviews conducted in February with 41 displaced women, including several who were pregnant or had cancer, and 26 healthcare professionals.
On the ground, they describe an "exponential" rise in maternal and neonatal pathologies, in the face of depleted medical infrastructure: nearly 601,300 health points are out of service, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
In the Gaza Strip, neonatal units are operating at up to 170% of their capacity, forcing caregivers to sometimes place three newborns per incubator.
Meanwhile, 46% essential medicines remain out of stock. This shortage forces the reuse of single-use equipment or the use of expired anesthetics.
In addition, 37,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women will suffer from acute malnutrition by mid-October 2026, according to the United Nations.
Young mothers recounted experiencing their pregnancies and recoveries in overcrowded tents, exposed to cold and pollution. Hind, 22, explained that she weighed only 43 kilos at delivery, giving birth to a premature baby suffering from a double lung infection.
Patients with chronic illnesses are also being severely affected. More than 18,500 patients now require urgent medical evacuation. "No hospital in Gaza currently offers radiotherapy," a nurse testified.
However, the evacuation process has been "completely stopped" since the closure of crossing points, notably Rafah, following the joint offensive by the United States and Israel against Iran at the end of February.
The delivery of care is hampered by the threats of suspension hanging over 37 humanitarian aid organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, whose accreditation has not been renewed.
Although a "ceasefire" agreement was reached in October 2025, military operations continue.
Gaza's Ministry of Health has recorded 630 additional deaths, including 202 children and 89 women, between this agreement and the end of February 2026. This toll "is in addition to the more than 72,000 people killed since October 7, 2023."
Faced with these "cascading catastrophes," Amnesty calls on states to exert diplomatic and economic pressure on Israel to lift the blockade "completely" and guarantee vital access to healthcare.
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