“I felt poison seeping into me”: Israel mutilates the fetuses of Gazan women

 This report is part of the "Not on the Margins" project, which sheds light on freedoms, and sexual and reproductive health and rights in Lebanon and the Arab world.

Since her birth in March 2024, Zeina al-Sayed from northern Gaza has been suffering from congenital deformities in her pelvic area. The birth defects affecting Zeina, who only came into her parents’ lives six years into their marriage, are hindering healthy growth.

Zeina’s father conducted medical examinations that revealed her developmental issues and stunted growth were caused by Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. Specifically, they are linked to her mother, Raghda al-Sayed, 28, being exposed to toxic gases and smoke from Israeli attacks since October 2023.

“During the last months of my pregnancy, I was displaced to a UNRWA school in the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern part of the strip,” Raghda tells Raseef22.

She adds, “We were targeted multiple times with toxic smoke bombs. On one occasion, a bomb exploded inside the classroom where my family and I were staying, and I inhaled the smoke directly for a prolonged period.”

Israel has used various toxic bombs in its ongoing war on Gaza. This has resulted in deformities in fetuses and newborns, according to Mutasem Salah, a member of the Gaza Health Emergency Committee who spoke to Raseef22.

“We were targeted multiple times with toxic smoke bombs deployed by the Israeli army. On one occasion, a bomb exploded inside the classroom where my family and I were staying, and I inhaled the smoke directly for a prolonged period. I felt poison seeping into me, and I couldn’t stop it because there was nowhere for us to run to. ”

White phosphorus is considered to be one of the most dangerous weapons used by Israel in its war. It is known to be highly toxic and leaves severe effects on the respiratory system and the body in general, according to Salah.

White phosphorus is also an internationally banned incendiary weapon under the 1980 Geneva Convention. It contains a wax-like chemical substance that is usually yellow and dense. When phosphorus reacts with oxygen, it ignites and burns, producing harmful smoke.

The Israeli army deploys white phosphorus toward the Gaza port.

The Israeli army deploys white phosphorus toward the Gaza port.

“I felt poison seeping into me”

Raghda described the moments of her exposure to the smoke: “I felt poison seeping into me, and I couldn’t stop it because there were no protective measures available at the shelter from the smoke bombs deployed by the Israeli army. There was nowhere for us to run to.”

Raghda was certain the smoke she inhaled would affect her fetus. “I feared I might lose my baby at any moment. Then came the moment of birth, and my daughter was born deformed,” she said.

It is difficult for Raghda to accept the idea that her child will live with disability and deformity for her entire life.

She explains that she had waited six years for her arrival, counting the days to welcome her in the best possible health and condition. But Israel robbed her of that joy, she says.

"Since the start of its war on Gaza, Israel has dropped over 80,000 tons of explosives, leaving war debris that affects the general health of the population. The occupation is using strange weapons, rockets, and bombs in this war, never before seen in local medical practice. These weapons produce toxic emissions and cause grotesque deformities and heavily affect fetuses and pregnant women.” – Mahmoud Bassal, Civil Defense spokesperson

“Given her current condition, the newborn Zeina needs special care and attention to prevent her condition from worsening. Under the ongoing war and blockade imposed on Gaza, this seems impossible.”

The mother hopes that the war will end soon to stop the suffering of her people and their mothers. She says, “I have seen many cases of children born deformed because their mothers inhaled toxic gases and smoke during previous wars while pregnant.”

Israel deploys white phosphorus and toxic bombs near displacement camps in southern Gaza.

Israel deploys white phosphorus and toxic bombs near displacement camps in southern Gaza.

Amal al-Masry, 33, from the city of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, was also shocked by her baby’s developmental defect when she gave birth to him in May 2024.

Amal became pregnant in August 2023. She expected everything to proceed normally as it had with the births of her three children.

“But the war came, and brought with it suffering for my baby, whom I named Saad (‘happiness’), hoping his days would be happier than the ones we are currently living,” Amal tells Raseef22.

“The Israeli army uses us as a testing ground for its internationally banned weapons, deploying various types in Gaza without oversight or fear of accountability. This causes catastrophic effects on the lives of Gazans.”

She noticed strange signs on Saad a few weeks after his birth. She took him to the hospital, where doctors found that he had “high levels of heavy metals in his blood,” which they told her leads to stunted growth.

Doctors suspected that the cause was the toxic gases, dirt, and dust that Amal inhaled when she was forced to flee with her family to Gaza City at the start of the war.

Incendiary bombs produce toxic gases.

Incendiary bombs produce toxic gases.

Giving birth in a collapsed health system

“Pregnant women need to follow a specific diet and receive special care until the time of birth to ensure the baby is healthy. But all of this is unattainable during the war, leading to increased birth defects among newborns,” Salah confirms.

“The Israeli army uses us as a testing ground for its internationally banned weapons, deploying various types in Gaza without oversight or fear of accountability. This causes catastrophic effects on the lives of Gazans.”

Israel deploys smoke bombs over shelter centers.

Israel deploys smoke bombs over shelter centers.

Salah explains: “Cases of congenital deformities and malformations among newborns exist in Gaza. However, the Health Ministry cannot provide accurate numbers because the healthcare system in the sector has collapsed due to the war and blockade.”

"The weapons Israel is using sometimes completely obliterate the bodies of martyrs, leaving no trace behind. During their field work, Civil Defense teams have found that there are no traces left of some bodies despite people confirming their presence in certain areas. This indicates that the bodies have basically evaporated and nothing has remained.”

“The occupation’s policy of separating the north and south and cutting off communications and the internet has made it difficult to coordinate between hospitals and the Health Ministry. Monitoring has become extremely challenging, even for counting and naming the martyrs.”

Internationally banned weapons

Since the start of its war on Gaza, Israel has dropped over 80,000 tons of explosives. These tons have caused massive destruction to residential units and infrastructure, leaving war debris that affects the general health of the population.

Mahmoud Bassal, spokesperson for the Civil Defense in the area, tells Raseef22 that “the occupation uses strange weapons, rockets, and bombs in its war on Gaza, never before seen in local medical practice.” He confirms that “these weapons produce toxic emissions and cause grotesque deformities. It is natural for them to heavily affect fetuses and pregnant women as well.”

“I have seen many cases of children born deformed because their mothers inhaled toxic gases and smoke during previous wars while pregnant.”

Bassal points to another impact of these weapons: “They completely obliterate the bodies of martyrs, leaving no trace behind.” He notes, “During their fieldwork, Civil Defense teams have found that there are no traces left of some bodies despite people confirming their presence in certain areas. This indicates that the bodies have basically evaporated and nothing has remained.”

In its reports, the United Nations Mine Action Service has warned of the dangers of exposure to unexploded Israeli munitions and ordnance in Gaza, along with other war remnants, including radioactive materials, white phosphorus, halogens, and heavy metals. All of these are harmful to human health in the short and long term.

The government’s media office in Gaza documented the use of at least nine types of internationally banned bombs and missiles by Israel against civilians, children, and women.

Raghda was certain the smoke she inhaled would affect her fetus. “I feared I might lose my baby at any moment. Then came the moment of birth, and my daughter was born deformed,” she said.

According to its statement, the used bombs include “bunker-busting types (BLU-113), (BLU-109), and (SDBS); the American GBU-28 bomb; GPS-guided bombs aimed at destroying infrastructure; white phosphorus bombs; JDAM smart bombs; and Halberd missiles.”

The media office confirmed that “these bombs caused mass killings and injuries within seconds, along with permanent damage such as deformities and disabilities. They also pose environmental risks because they release toxic radiation.”