Gaza’s Health Ministry has called for an international investigation after recording a sharp rise in congenital anomalies among newborns, as Israeli restrictions continue to obstruct medical supplies and access to essential healthcare despite the ceasefire.
The Gaza Health Ministry has documented 260 cases of congenital anomalies among newborns during the first nine months of 2026, compared with 184 throughout 2022 and 322 in 2025.
The reported conditions include cleft lip and palate, abnormalities of the external genitalia that make it difficult to determine a newborn’s sex at birth, shortened upper limbs, and umbilical hernias.
Some children have more than one congenital condition, increasing their need for specialized examinations, surgical interventions, and long-term medical care.
Gaza Health Ministry Director-General Munir al-Bursh warned that the figures constitute a serious health warning.
“The investigation should examine possible contributing factors, including maternal malnutrition, exposure to environmental pollutants and interruptions in prenatal care during the war,” he said.
The crisis is unfolding as pregnant women and newborns face a healthcare system struggling to provide even basic services, with shortages of medicines, diagnostic equipment, incubators, and specialized medical staff.
The latest report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), published on November 6, warned that Israeli restrictions on essential supplies and equipment are threatening Gaza’s already overstretched health services.
According to the report, neonatal unit occupancy reached 151 percent in September, while special-care baby units were operating at 199 percent capacity, and nearly 63 percent of deliveries were classified as high-risk.
The report also said Israeli authorities notified UN agencies on November 1 that humanitarian and commercial shipments from Egypt would be suspended.
Access to treatment outside Gaza also remains restricted, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting that tens of thousands of patients require specialized care unavailable inside the territory.
The Gaza Health Ministry’s latest figures, reported on November 6, show that since the genocide began on October 7, 2023, Israeli attacks have killed 74,618 Palestinians and wounded 175,925.
Since the ceasefire between the regime and the Palestinians resistance movement Hamas took effect on October 11, 2025, another 1,602 Palestinians have been killed and 5,799 wounded, according to the ministry.
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