The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip has warned of serious and unprecedented indicators affecting the health of mothers and newborns, amid the ongoing fallout from the war and the collapse of the health system. The ministry warned that these figures may not reflect the true scale of the crisis. There were 315 recorded cases of birth defects, up 58%, and 452 newborn deaths during the first week of life in 2025. Meningitis scare in the SouthIn a related warning, the ministry revealed that cases of spinal fever — meningitis — have been recorded in southern Gaza. The situation must be treated as an urgent health emergency requiring immediate intervention and the unrestricted entry of medical supplies.