Women and girls in Gaza continue to endure devastating consequences from ongoing conflict, including widespread displacement, severe deprivation, and catastrophic hunger. Since October 2023, Israeli military operations have left more than 38,000 women and girls dead and nearly 11,000 living with lifelong disabilities due to injuries. Almost one million have been displaced, while nearly 790,000 face crisis-level food insecurity. The destruction of infrastructure has made access to essential services such as healthcare nearly impossible.
Many households are now headed by women who have lost their husbands, leaving them to sustain families without income, support, or access to basic services. This has compounded the already dire humanitarian situation, with women and girls disproportionately affected by the lack of resources and protection.
UN Women has been present in Palestine since 1997 and continues to work on the ground with women-led organizations to provide lifesaving services. Their efforts focus on centering women’s leadership in guiding both response and recovery, ensuring that women and girls are included meaningfully in all stages of humanitarian action.
The organization emphasizes the urgent need for a full ceasefire, accountability for violations, and unobstructed humanitarian assistance. It also calls for women and girls to be placed at the center of recovery efforts, recognizing their critical role in rebuilding communities and sustaining resilience in the face of crisis.
