KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip - As of June 25, 2025, approximately 580 premature babies across the Gaza Strip are at risk of death due to a critical shortage of medical-grade formula, according to the Gaza Health Ministry [1][2][3]. The ongoing blockade has severely impacted the availability of essential supplies, leaving hospitals and families in a desperate situation.

At Nasser Hospital, the main medical facility still partially functional in southern Gaza, Dr. Ahmed al-Farah, head of the pediatrics and obstetrics department, expressed grave concern: 'These babies have no time … and no voice,' [3]. The hospital's neonatal intensive care unit is struggling to care for its most vulnerable patients with dwindling resources.

Seham Fawzy Khodeir, a 24-year-old mother of six, watches her newborn son Hisham al-Lahham in a dilapidated incubator at Nasser Hospital. 'There is no milk,' Khodeir told The Associated Press. 'He needs it to get better, to live and to see life.' [1][2][3]

The shortage of medical-grade formula is particularly critical for premature infants who rely on specialized nutrition for survival. While some formula has been delivered, doctors report that the situation remains dire [1][4].

The plight of these infants has been somewhat overshadowed by recent developments in the Israel-Iran conflict [1][4]. However, the ongoing blockade continues to have severe consequences for Gaza's healthcare system and its most vulnerable patients.

Israeli authorities have not directly commented on the specific issue of formula shortages for premature infants. The broader blockade, which Israel says is necessary for security reasons, has been a point of contention and humanitarian concern [6].

As the situation unfolds, international aid organizations and local medical staff are working to secure additional supplies and support for these at-risk infants. The coming days will be critical in determining the fate of Gaza's premature babies as efforts continue to address this urgent humanitarian crisis.