Post by : Naveen Mittal

Gaza Babies Forced to Share Oxygen Masks as Israel Blocks Equipment, UNICEF Says

In Gaza’s overburdened hospitals, newborns are now sharing oxygen masks as medical staff rotate limited resources among multiple infants. This stark reality, confirmed by UNICEF, underscores the devastating collapse of Gaza’s health system under wartime strain. The apparatus once meant to save lives now symbolizes a daily struggle for survival.

Medical Chaos in Gaza

The war has intensified demand on newborn care in Gaza. Rising malnutrition and stress among pregnant women have led to a surge in premature and underweight births, now estimated at roughly 20 percent of newborns in the territory. With northern hospitals shut down, southern facilities are overwhelmed by patient overflow. In one southern hospital, three babies and their mothers were squeezed onto a single bed with one oxygen source—mothers rotate oxygen usage among infants. Essential equipment like incubators remain trapped in evacuated or damaged northern hospitals, with repeated requests to retrieve them denied by authorities. Only 14 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals remain even partially operational.

Blockades, Denials & Human Cost

Equipment remains stranded in shut hospitals, including the now-evacuated Al-Rantissi hospital in northern Gaza. UNICEF reports four missions to recover incubators were blocked. Health workers describe corridors lined with mothers and infants on floors. Israel asserts that aid is allowed but must be regulated to prevent diversion by Hamas. Meanwhile, Palestine health officials report that nearly half of humanitarian missions in Gaza have been denied or impeded since October 2023.

Voices from the Ground

UNICEF spokespersons visiting southern hospitals described scenes of desperation—mothers trying to comfort crying infants while waiting for their turn at oxygen. Medical staff are forced to make excruciating decisions about who receives life-saving treatment. The death of one baby during an evacuation between hospitals further illustrated the lethal risks of movement in a war zone.

Regional & International Reactions

Human rights groups, UN agencies, and international health experts have issued urgent calls for the evacuation of severely ill babies and unrestricted delivery of medical equipment. Pressure is mounting on Israel to allow unimpeded medical access and lift barriers preventing the movement of health supplies. Some governments may raise the issue in diplomatic forums, highlighting the potential violation of international humanitarian law regarding protection of the sick and vulnerable.

What Comes Next

• Intensified diplomatic pressure for opening medical supply corridors and lifting restrictions

• Emergency evacuation of critical infants to safer hospitals or outside Gaza

• Independent monitoring of hospital access and medical flow

• Advocacy for accountability and compliance with conventions on medical treatment in conflict

Disclaimer

This article is based on verified news reports and credible public sources as of October 2025. It is intended for informational and analytical purposes only and does not reflect any political advocacy. Readers should verify via official health agencies, UN bodies, and independent news updates.

Gaza health crisis, UNICEF, newborns, medical blockade, incubator shortage, premature births, hospital collapse, humanitarian access, international law, conflict medicine