UN report alleges Gaza war worsened sexual violence risks for Palestinian women
UNFPA concluded that Israel’s military response to Hamas had resulted in Palestinian women being subjected to violence by family members, members of the community, and others.
A UN report has highlighted the worsening of sexual violence risks for Palestinian women in Gaza due to Israel's military response to Hamas' October 7 attack, as well as the displacement of the civilian population. Based on interviews with 230 displaced women, UNFPA revealed that Israeli forces subjected women to violence by family members, community members, and security and aid personnel.
Despite investigations exposing allegations of Hamas members and international aid workers exploiting women and children, the report refrained from mentioning Hamas, the ruling organization in Gaza. UNFPA acknowledged that women might not disclose violence by armed groups, but stressed that the report's findings should not be interpreted as reflecting the prevalence or absence of GBV perpetrated by Palestinian armed actors.
The report underscored that Palestinian women and girls have faced substantial GBV risks due to ingrained gender norms, legal, social, and cultural systems that position women as subordinate to men. These norms, rooted in outdated laws, have deprived women of mechanisms to hold abusers accountable. The war's destruction of Gaza's infrastructure further disrupted legal, healthcare, and education systems providing support and protection.
The overcrowded, unsafe, and undignified living conditions in displacement camps resulted in increased rapes, assaults, domestic violence, and sexual harassment. Israel's evacuation orders, aid blockage, and parallel aid distribution system have exacerbated resource scarcity, leading to economic desperation, survival sex, child marriage, and other forms of exploitation.
The UN has faced numerous allegations of sexual misconduct in Gaza and other conflict zones, with 758 allegations reported in 2024.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
