Najwa Abu Hamada felt no justice when a UN Commission of Inquiry reported that Israel’s actions, including destroying a fertility clinic, amounted to genocide in Gaza.
Instead, these findings brought back painful memories for Abu Hamada of the embryos she lost at the Al Basma IVF centre when Israeli forces attacked in late 2023.
Like many in Gaza, Abu Hamada feels powerless and voiceless as Israel’s nearly two-year military campaign continues, with casualties rising.
Najwa Abu Hamada with her husband at their Doha home. — Reuters
DAMAGE TO IVF CENTRE DESTROYS EMBRYOS
“The genocide is not just against men, children, and women; it’s also against my frozen fertility eggs,” said Abu Hamada from Qatar, where she now resides.
“Israel even committed genocide against the embryos I had at Al Basma. What can make up for this loss?”
Having already had one child through fertility treatments in Gaza, Abu Hamada wonders if she can have another at 49.
On Tuesday, she and her husband Eyad spoke with Dr. Bahaeldeen Ghalayini, who founded Al Basma IVF centre, about future fertility options.
“The doctor advised us not to lose hope,” her husband shared.
The couple had traveled to Qatar for fertility treatment before the Gaza conflict began. The destruction of her embryos in Gaza in 2023 was a severe blow to her dream of having another child.
ISRAELI ENVOY LABELS REPORT AS ‘LIBELOUS RANT’
While Reuters couldn’t independently confirm her story, Ghalayini verified that Abu Hamada had embryos at the Gaza clinic before it was attacked in 2023.
The U.N. Commission stated that the destruction of Al Basma centre was “a measure to prevent Palestinian births in Gaza,” a violation linked to genocide under the 1948 convention.
“Israeli forces fired a tank shell that exploded five liquid nitrogen tanks, destroying all reproductive material stored for future Palestinian conception,” it reported.
Israel has neither confirmed hitting the clinic nor accepted accusations of genocide or intentional targeting of civilians or infrastructure, asserting its military actions aim to dismantle Hamas following their attack on October 7, 2023.
“Unlike Hamas’ deliberate attacks on Israelis, the IDF adheres to international law and takes steps to prevent civilian harm,” stated the Israel Defence Forces on Wednesday.
Daniel Meron, Israel’s UN ambassador in Geneva, called the genocide claims “scandalous” and “false,” describing the report as a “libelous rant.”
ISRAELI STRIKE DESTROYS 4,000 EMBRYOS
Reuters first reported on the attack that Ghalayini said destroyed 4,000 embryos plus 1,000 additional sperm and egg specimens.
The commission’s 72-page analysis is the strongest U.N. finding yet, though it is independent and doesn’t officially represent the United Nations. The U.N. hasn’t used ‘genocide’ but faces growing pressure to do so.
Israel accuses Hamas of using medical facilities for operations, a claim Hamas denies.
Besides the fertility clinic destruction, the commission cited the scale of killings, aid blockades, and forced displacement as evidence of genocide.
Abu Hamada’s son, Khalil, conceived via IVF at a different clinic, was killed at 17 during a 2022 conflict between Israel and Islamic Jihad.
“After 12 years of infertility and five IVF attempts, I was blessed with him. I wanted him to marry and celebrate life, but I lost him,” Abu Hamada lamented.
“We need global support. The world watches yet does nothing.”
