The number of monthly births in the Gaza Strip has fallen by 40 percent as health officials warn of a surge in miscarriages linked to malnutrition and the breakdown of medical services.
Munir al-Bursh, director general of the Gaza-based health authorities, said in a statement on Sunday that the number of newborns has dropped to approximately 17,000 per month, down from a monthly average of 26,000 in 2024.
Al-Bursh attributed the sharp decline to widespread maternal malnutrition, which he said has led to a spike in low birth weights and fetal loss. He accused Israel of exacerbating the crisis by restricting the entry of essential prenatal supplements and medical aid.
The director general further alleged that Israeli military operations had directly impacted reproductive health infrastructure, citing the destruction of fertility clinics and the loss of roughly 4,000 fertilized embryos following the damage of nitrogen storage units.
Separately, the Hamas-run government media office reported Sunday that Israel had committed 969 violations of the ceasefire agreement that took effect on Oct. 10. The office stated that 418 people have been killed and 1,141 injured in related incidents since the truce began.
Aid delivery also remains a point of contention. The media office said only 19,764 truckloads of humanitarian relief have entered Gaza since the ceasefire, far below the 48,000 truckloads it says were stipulated in the agreement.