Heartbreak in Gaza: IVF Dreams Shattered Amid Ongoing Conflict

Wed Oct 22 2025 17:13:54 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Noura's hopes for motherhood are crushed as war in Gaza destroys fertility clinics and frozen embryos.

The ongoing conflict in Gaza has devastated families' dreams of parenthood, as Noura and her husband, like many others, have lost their frozen embryos during the turmoil. The destruction at Al-Basma Fertility Centre highlights the grim impact of the war on women's reproductive health and the broader implications for future generations.

In the midst of the chaos and violence in Gaza, many families have been forced to confront the harsh reality of lost dreams. Noura, a 26-year-old Palestinian woman, has been left heartbroken after losing not only her pregnancy but also her hopes for a family. After enduring years of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, she finally became pregnant in July 2023, a moment that filled her with joy. Noura and her husband, Mohamed, also stored two embryos with hopes of giving them siblings in the future.

However, their dreams were shattered amidst the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023, when Israeli military operations were launched in response to an attack by Hamas. As conflict escalated, Noura's situation rapidly deteriorated. Forced to flee their home amid relentless bombings, they struggled to find the necessary food and medical supplies for a healthy pregnancy. Noura experienced severe haemorrhage during her seventh month, leading to a tragic miscarriage.

As if that loss wasn’t enough, they found out that their hopes of having a family had been further dashed. The Al-Basma Fertility Centre, which housed their embryos, became a casualty of war when it was shelled, leading to the destruction of nearly 4,000 frozen embryos, according to the clinic's director, Dr. Baha Ghalayini. He expressed profound sorrow, explaining the emotional weight of the lost embryos, which represented years of struggle for many couples.

The toll extends beyond Noura and Mohamed; at least 100 to 150 women may have lost their only chance to conceive as a result of the clinic's destruction. Many women, facing chronic illnesses or advanced age, may struggle to undergo further treatment, leaving them in despair.

In an environment where healthcare is severely compromised, all nine fertility clinics in Gaza are either destroyed or non-operational. Women like Islam Lubbad, who also lost embryos, are left searching for hope in a seemingly hopeless situation.

The conflict has ignited accusations against Israeli forces, with reports suggesting that the destruction of the Al-Basma clinic was a deliberate act aimed at curtailing the reproductive rights of Palestinian women. Israel has denied these accusations, asserting that it does not target healthcare facilities.

As the chaos of war continues, thousands of families are left grappling with not just the loss of embryos but also the brutal reality that their hopes for a future generation may be extinguished forever.