Arabic version: أمهات غزة يواجهن ألمًا لا يُتصور في يوم الأم

On May 10, while many around the world celebrate Mother’s Day with joy and gratitude, mothers in Gaza experience profound heartache. According to Al Jazeera, 22,000 women have been killed in the region over the past two and a half years, leaving a generation of children facing unbearable loss.

The ongoing conflict has drastically increased maternal death rates during childbirth, with a recent report highlighting 220 Palestinian women dying while giving birth between January and June 2025. Additionally, the famine has disproportionately affected pregnant and breastfeeding women, leading to severe health risks for both mothers and their children.

For many mothers, the burden of grief is compounded by the struggle to provide for their families. More than 22,000 women have lost their husbands and are now solely responsible for their children. They contend with the daily challenges of running households without basic necessities like water and electricity, all while dealing with the emotional toll of losing loved ones.

Healthcare access has deteriorated significantly, as the Israeli army has bombed hospitals, including the only specialized oncological hospital. This has left patients, like one woman undergoing chemotherapy, without essential treatments. Many families are left waiting in despair, hoping for medical referrals to be approved so that they can seek treatment abroad.

As Mother’s Day unfolds, the pain of Gaza’s mothers remains largely unseen, overshadowed by the ongoing conflict. Their struggles reflect a broader crisis that continues to affect countless lives in the region.