The Israeli government, as the occupying power in Gaza, has violated the right to the highest attainable standard of health and other rights of pregnant women and girls, including the right to dignified, respectful health care throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum, as well as the right to newborn care.
As of January , emergency obstetric and newborn care is only available at 7 out of 18 partially functioning hospitals across Gaza, 4 out of 11 field hospitals, and one community health center, compared to the 20 hospitals and other smaller healthcare facilities that functioned before October 7, When the bombing started, Shaima was at home in southern Gaza with her husband, and three of their four children. Jenan was in the middle, so I told her, sleep on this side and leave twin brother next to your older brother.
Israeli authorities have also unlawfully restricted humanitarian aid and medical supplies to people in Gaza, amounting to the war crime of collective punishment. When the bombing happened, it was set on fire, flesh was melting before my eyes fat was dripping, as if it was a barbecue.
When the bed flew and I fell to the ground, water containers flew, and fell next to me, and I started scooping water from it to cool my leg down.
The paramedics took a long time to find me because I was under the rubble and among the ruins. The first hospital Shaima was taken to in Gaza, among the few still functioning at limited capacity, was full, so she had to be moved to another one. She felt the baby move and begged doctors to perform a caesarean section, but they said she was not stable enough for the surgery.
