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TooBigForMyBoots · 31/08/2025 00:38

Hadalifeonce · 30/08/2025 21:32

Why doesn't Egypt open its boarder?

What does your research tell you?

Original poster
Everexpanding · 31/08/2025 00:19

A further excerpt to show the dire situation

he charity ActionAid Ireland has shared testimonies from women in Gaza describing their experiences and the devastating effects of Israel’s violence and blockading of food and medical supplies.
One of the women, Nevin, who is two months pregnant, said: “There is no food and medical supplies are not available [or] the treatments and vitamins that every pregnant woman needs. Because of the lack of vitamins and adequate treatment, I miscarried twice.”

Duaa, another woman who is pregnant in Gaza, said: “My suffering during pregnancy is, first of all, the lack of food here. I get dizzy and tremble because of the lack of food.”
“There are no treatments or medications; we go to the [humanitarian] agency and come back [with nothing],” Duaa said.
A woman who spoke anonymously to ActionAid said that she has suffered from anaemia, gestational diabetes, high blood pressure and malnutrition during her pregnancy.
“I do not know what to [do to deal with] high blood pressure, diabetes, anaemia, dizziness, lack of food and lack of drink. This is our life in Gaza,” she said.
ActionAid has said that between 70 to 75% of the 300 pregnant and breastfeeding women who visit its partner hospital Al Awda in northern Gaza every day are suffering from malnutrition.
Doctors at the hospital have reported that pregnant women are experiencing serious complications due to starvation and the lack of medications caused by Israel withholding access to supplies.

OP posts:
Original poster
Everexpanding · 31/08/2025 00:13

The point of this thread was to highlight the dire situation of pregnant Palestinian women
and to discuss any possible way mumsnetters as fellow women and mothers could help to alleviate their suffering.
I asked politely numerous times that it not be derailed so to get it back on track please see below a description of what Gazan women are experiencing

“Sometimes Israeli military action and displacement mean that women are giving birth in their tents or shelters with no medical help.
"If mothers are lucky enough to come to the hospitals to deliver their babies, women who give birth vaginally are typically being sent home three to four hours afterwards," says Sandra Adler Killen, an American registered emergency and paediatric nurse, who recently worked at the hospital in Gaza.
"Women who have had surgical C-sections [Caesareans] are discharged after 24 hours," she said.
"They're discharged to their homes quite often with babies who have conditions and various issues that in normal circumstances we would have stay at the hospital to get more support.
"Most babies, outside of Gaza, born under 32 weeks, under 1,400g (3.1lb), they would be in the NICU [neo-natal intensive care unit]. These babies are sent home. There's just no space for them

any suggestions for actions welcome. Any hasbara or racist talking points are not

OP posts:
TooBigForMyBoots · 30/08/2025 23:10

CaramelPecan · 30/08/2025 21:22

It’s not just Gaza though is it? Conditions like these affect every pregnant woman in every war zone.

Even worse in this one as their own government calculatedly created these conditions for them and does not intend to surrender nor want them to be able to leave the war zone to get to safety.

Has Hamas ever called on neighbouring countries to allow any civilians, let alone pregnant women and children, safe refuge?

Show quote history

VAWG happens in all societies.
War has a negative impact on women and girls.
The war in Gaza is having a negative impact on all Gazans.

What's your point?

Martymcfly24 · 30/08/2025 21:43

Hadalifeonce · 30/08/2025 21:32

Why doesn't Egypt open its boarder?

Can you think of any reason at all why they might not wish to take 2 million starved/homeless/traumatized refugees on top of the 100,000 that have arrived since 7/10?

Hadalifeonce · 30/08/2025 21:32

Why doesn't Egypt open its boarder?

CaramelPecan · 30/08/2025 21:22

TooBigForMyBoots · 30/08/2025 20:54

@MumOfManyAliases do you deny the conditions of pregnant women in Gaza? That link is not the only one. Other sources are available if you doubt that one.

Edited

It’s not just Gaza though is it? Conditions like these affect every pregnant woman in every war zone.

Even worse in this one as their own government calculatedly created these conditions for them and does not intend to surrender nor want them to be able to leave the war zone to get to safety.

Has Hamas ever called on neighbouring countries to allow any civilians, let alone pregnant women and children, safe refuge?

TooBigForMyBoots · 30/08/2025 20:54

@MumOfManyAliases do you deny the conditions of pregnant women in Gaza? That link is not the only one. Other sources are available if you doubt that one.

Stripes56 · 30/08/2025 20:47

MumOfManyAliases · 30/08/2025 20:41

I’ve just looked up Haaretz.com and it’s described as a left-leaning newspaper, so not exactly impartial…

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In Israel- maybe only a left leaning paper would probably choose to publish such clear concerns about starvation in Gaza?

Maybe that’s why some doubt the severity of what if happening in Gaza? Maybe people restrict their reading to news resources that don’t challenge their views.

MumOfManyAliases · 30/08/2025 20:41

Stripes56 · 30/08/2025 15:04

This really does show lack of awareness of what has and is happening in Gaza. Perhaps this post also explains why some people think those criticising the situation in Gaza are simply being antisemitic. They may not be aware of what is apparent to most of the people world now.

This article has distressing pictures

www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-08-21/ty-article-magazine/starvation-is-everywhere-virtual-tours-of-gaza-clinics-expose-the-scale-of-the-horror/00000198-ccb7-dcce-a5bf-cdb714fb0000

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I’ve just looked up Haaretz.com and it’s described as a left-leaning newspaper, so not exactly impartial…

SharonEllis · 30/08/2025 20:36

Stripes56 · 30/08/2025 20:24

It’s actually neither complex nor nuanced, unless you want to quite inhumanely blame the victims or focus on what is likely to be minor roles in the causes for suffering.

Some people can’t see the woods for the trees.

Really? I don't even know what that means. Are you saying there is only one reason why women get pregnant in war zones? Or only one reason why Palestinian women are getting pregnant in this war? If so please explain what that reason is.

TooBigForMyBoots · 30/08/2025 20:36

Stripes56 · 30/08/2025 20:29

I try not to engage with it, as it does derail threads. But it’s hard to ignore at times.

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It is.

That's because most posters here are posting in good faith and expect the same from others. It's a difficult path, correcting disinformation vs feeding trolls.

There's a thread running in Site Stuff about it.Smile

SharonEllis · 30/08/2025 20:33

TooBigForMyBoots · 30/08/2025 20:27

They've nothing else. Israel is committing war crimes. They have to defend it somehow. And if not defending, then deflect, derail and victim blame.

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How is discussing the reasons why women get pregnant in a war zone defending war crimes? Why do you lump that all under the heading of 'victim blaming'? Do you have no empathy for Palestinian women at all? I don't think I've ever seen a clearer illustration of Palestinians as a pawn in the game of blaming Israel for everything.

Stripes56 · 30/08/2025 20:29

TooBigForMyBoots · 30/08/2025 20:27

They've nothing else. Israel is committing war crimes. They have to defend it somehow. And if not defending, then deflect, derail and victim blame.

Show quote history

I try not to engage with it, as it does derail threads. But it’s hard to ignore at times.

SharonEllis · 30/08/2025 20:27

TooBigForMyBoots · 30/08/2025 20:24

Your dogwhistles are loud and clear.🙄

Edited
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Thar's very offensive. What have I said that is a dog whistle?

TooBigForMyBoots · 30/08/2025 20:27

Stripes56 · 30/08/2025 19:52

So on a thread discussing how women and their babies are suffering - we have posters talking about “nuances” which include:

berating women for falling pregnant (despite there not being available contraception)

wondering how people would to have want to have sex and potentially fall pregnant when they are starving

talking about that some of the blame must lie with Palestinian men for raping women

Just imagine having to accept that the difficulties may lie with the lack of food, contraception, lack of medical facilities, difficulty accessing water, having their homes destroyed and being moved repeatedly. Yes Hamas is to blame too, as well as Israel.

No - let’s speak about the “nuances”

They've nothing else. Israel is committing war crimes. They have to defend it somehow. And if not defending, then deflect, derail and victim blame.

TooBigForMyBoots · 30/08/2025 20:24

SharonEllis · 30/08/2025 18:48

Not to anyone but you I suspect.

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Your dogwhistles are loud and clear.🙄

Stripes56 · 30/08/2025 20:24

It’s actually neither complex nor nuanced, unless you want to quite inhumanely blame the victims or focus on what is likely to be minor roles in the causes for suffering.

Some people can’t see the woods for the trees.

SharonEllis · 30/08/2025 20:06

@Stripes56 and I think the only time I mentioned nuance was when discussing the well documented pattern of birth rates going up in some conflicts and how there were various reasons for it. Sorry I can't give you the simplistic analysis that you are so obviously after.

SharonEllis · 30/08/2025 20:04

Stripes56 · 30/08/2025 19:52

So on a thread discussing how women and their babies are suffering - we have posters talking about “nuances” which include:

berating women for falling pregnant (despite there not being available contraception)

wondering how people would to have want to have sex and potentially fall pregnant when they are starving

talking about that some of the blame must lie with Palestinian men for raping women

Just imagine having to accept that the difficulties may lie with the lack of food, contraception, lack of medical facilities, difficulty accessing water, having their homes destroyed and being moved repeatedly. Yes Hamas is to blame too, as well as Israel.

No - let’s speak about the “nuances”

Why do you object so strongly to nuance and complexity? Why do you want a complex thing to be a simple thing? Do you honestly think the only issue facing Palestinian women is the things you can blame Israel for (you mention Hamas now but it barely got a mention before). Do you really think there is only one reason why women in war became pregnant (I'm not sure what that reason would be exactly). Is it really wrong to empathise with women who are pregnant but don't want to be? Or do you just not accept that and think they are happy to be pregnant? Was anyone actually berating women? Were they not expressing surprise and trying to understand? Do you really think Palestinian men bear no responsibility at all, given that I think we all agree its an awful environment to be pregnant and giving birth?

Stripes56 · 30/08/2025 19:52

So on a thread discussing how women and their babies are suffering - we have posters talking about “nuances” which include:

berating women for falling pregnant (despite there not being available contraception)

wondering how people would to have want to have sex and potentially fall pregnant when they are starving

talking about that some of the blame must lie with Palestinian men for raping women

Just imagine having to accept that the difficulties may lie with the lack of food, contraception, lack of medical facilities, difficulty accessing water, having their homes destroyed and being moved repeatedly. Yes Hamas is to blame too, as well as Israel.

No - let’s speak about the “nuances”

mids2019 · 30/08/2025 19:50

There are other acts of intimacy that don't result in pregnancy and so you have to think the pregnancies are deliberate choices. You would presume intelligent free women would delay pregnancy until the cessation of hostilities given the immediate prospects for their offspring so I think it is right to consider coercion in many cases.

SharonEllis · 30/08/2025 18:48

Hoppinggreen · 30/08/2025 18:43

In Gaza domestic violence is a big issue. A rapist can avoid prosecution by marrying his victim. Marital rape is not illegal but abortion is
On the other hand marital rape has been illegal in Israel since 1980 I think, before it was here in the UK.

The implication was clear.

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Not to anyone but you I suspect.

Hoppinggreen · 30/08/2025 18:43

SharonEllis · 30/08/2025 18:22

Well that certainly wasn't a point I would even think of.

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In Gaza domestic violence is a big issue. A rapist can avoid prosecution by marrying his victim. Marital rape is not illegal but abortion is
On the other hand marital rape has been illegal in Israel since 1980 I think, before it was here in the UK.

The implication was clear.

SharonEllis · 30/08/2025 18:22

Hoppinggreen · 30/08/2025 18:19

You mentioned how the rights of Israeli women are better than those of Gazan women, I am sure that doesn't come as a surprise to anyone so it may be that you had another reason for making that point.

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Well that certainly wasn't a point I would even think of.

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