Gaza woman gives birth to quadruplets on eve before three-day ceasefire crumbles

Mother gave birth to three healthy boys and a girl

Dr Bassel Abuward posted this picture of the quadruplets shortly after their birth (Twitter/ @DrBasselAbuward)

A picture of quadruplets born in a Gaza hospital to a Palestinian woman who had spent five years having unsuccessful IVF treatment provided a brief moment of joy in the midst of an escalating crisis, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues into its fourth week.

Dr Bassel Abuwarda, a doctor at the Al-Shifa Hospital, posted a picture of the three healthy boys and a girl on Twitter, writing: “Despite the pain, Palestinian mother gave birth to quadruplets last night in #Gaza."

The Al-Shifa Hospital was hit by a strike on Monday, reportedly wounding several people. Dr Abuwarda has been tweeting his experiences from the hospital as it struggles to treat the growing number of casualties.

The babies have a combined weight of seven kilos, the BBC reports. Their mother gave birth just hours before a three-day ceasefire collapsed in the same morning it came into effect.

On Saturday morning, Israel carried out fresh attacks on the southern Gaza town of Rafah on Saturday as the search continued for an Israeli solider it believes may have been captured during an ambush as a three-day ceasefire collapsed.

Palestinian health officials say at least 55 people were killed in the bombardment and shelling in and around the Gaza city of Rafah on Saturday, while the area's main hospital was evacuated because of the strikes.