May 28, 2025 – The dreams of hundreds of Palestinian families hoping to conceive through IVF have been shattered as Israel’s military campaign in Gaza reportedly destroyed all operational fertility clinics in the territory, including the Al-Basma Fertility Centre.
Noura, a 26-year-old Palestinian woman, was one of many victims. After a long struggle with infertility, she finally became pregnant in July 2023 through IVF. “I was overjoyed,” she told BBC News. But the happiness was short-lived. As Israel intensified its operations following the October 7 Hamas attacks, Noura and her husband Mohamed were forced to flee repeatedly, unable to access medical care or even basic vitamins.
Seven months into her pregnancy, Noura suffered a severe hemorrhage. “We transported her in a garbage truck,” said Mohamed. One of their twins was stillborn, the other died shortly after birth due to lack of incubators.
Frozen Embryos Destroyed in Bombing
Even more devastating was the destruction of Al-Basma’s IVF lab, where Noura and many other couples had stored embryos. According to Dr. Baha Ghalayini, the clinic’s director, the facility held nearly 4,000 frozen embryos and over 1,000 samples of sperm and eggs. These were preserved in liquid nitrogen tanks that ran dry as supply lines were cut and bombing intensified.
“These are not just numbers—they are people’s hopes,” said Dr. Ghalayini. “Many of these patients are cancer survivors or have conditions that make another round of IVF impossible.”
All IVF Clinics in Gaza Now Inoperable
The Al-Basma clinic was just one of nine fertility clinics in Gaza—all have now either been destroyed or rendered non-functional due to war damage and resource shortages. Women like Islam Lubbad and Sara Khudari, who were preparing for or recovering from IVF, have also lost their babies and embryos amid the chaos.
“There was no stability,” said Islam, who miscarried while fleeing with her family. “My body was exhausted.”
International Response and Accusations
The UN Human Rights Council has accused Israel of deliberately targeting the Al-Basma IVF clinic and preventing aid and medicine crucial to reproductive health from entering Gaza. It claims that the destruction of reproductive infrastructure may constitute a “genocidal act.”
Israel has categorically denied the allegations, stating that its military operations comply with international law. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told the BBC, “The claim that the IDF intentionally strikes such sites is baseless.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also denounced the UN report as “antisemitic” and “terrorist-supporting.”
Widening Humanitarian Crisis
According to Gaza’s health ministry, over 54,000 people have died in the territory since October 2023. The destruction of medical infrastructure, including reproductive services, represents a deeper human cost of the ongoing conflict that goes beyond immediate fatalities.
“We’ve lost everything,” said Noura. “Not just our babies, but our future.”
Conclusion
The obliteration of Gaza’s IVF clinics is a haunting reminder that war leaves behind more than rubble—it erases generations. With no functioning fertility centers left, and many women unable to restart treatment, hundreds of families have seen their dreams of parenthood vanish in an instant.
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