““Those murdered were mothers, daughters, sisters and friends, deeply loved by those around them.” He noted, adding that the killings have continued in recent months, despite the ceasefire between Hamas fighters and the Israeli army.
The data also indicates that almost 11,000 women and girls have been injured and many have life-changing disabilities. The actual number of victims is likely higher because many bodies remain trapped under the rubble.said UN Women. According to Gaza health authorities, more than 72,315 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip and another 172,137 have been injured since October 2023.
This has created a chronic humanitarian emergency in Gaza, where many households are now headed by women who face increased economic hardship and protection risks.
United families
Six months since the Gaza ceasefire began last October, women and girls continue to face serious and persistent risks, as humanitarian needs remain critical and recovery conditions remain fragile.
“This war has reshaped families. Tens of thousands of households are now headed by women,” insisted Ms. Calltorp of UN Women. “Having lost their husbands, they support their families without income, support or access to essential services.”
Additionally, “there is a complete lack of most services,” Calltorp continued, highlighting the urgent need for “the basics,” including sexual and reproductive health and access to sanitary pads. She recalled visiting Gaza in November and meeting two women who had to give birth to their babies in the streets, “because there was no transportation to take them to any functional hospital.”
UN Women calls for full respect of the ceasefire, compliance with international law and increased humanitarian assistance, highlighting that women and girls must be at the center of recovery and peacebuilding efforts.
The agency remains on the ground in Gaza collaborating with women-led and women’s rights organizations.
Together with the United Nations system, aid partners and women’s organizations, UN Women works to reach all women and girls with life-saving assistance and to ensure that women’s organizations are funded and represented in decision-making and reconstruction.