The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that the number of cases of congenital defects among newborns in Gaza during the first nine months of 2026 exceeded the total number registered throughout 2022, which preceded the start of the Israeli war in the territory.
A medical source in Gaza told Wafa that 260 cases were recorded from January to September, compared to 184 cases registered for the entire year of 2022.
Furthermore, the source noted that 322 cases were recorded in 2025, representing a 75 percent increase compared to the 2022 figures.
Possible causes for this phenomenon include maternal malnutrition, exposure to environmental pollutants, and disruptions in prenatal care during military operations. The source called for an independent international scientific investigation.
However, the source warned that these figures alone do not allow for determining the level of congenital anomalies among newborns or identifying their root causes.
Previously, in January 2025, a report by Human Rights Watch indicated that pregnant women in Gaza faced serious health threats due to the war, blockade, damage to medical facilities, as well as shortages of food, water, and medicine.
