The War on Gaza Exposes Women to Various Forms of Violence

Gaza Strip – Palestine- the rate of violence against women in the Gaza Strip has been rising due to the ongoing war since October 2023. This includes both domestic violence and violence perpetrated by the Israeli occupation and increased demand for their services, at the same time as survivors lack access to justice due to the collapse of the legal system amid the ongoing war.

 Near daily attacks by the Israeli military are killing women and girls at an unprecedented rate: women and children make up almost 70% of the death toll and 75% of the injured, according to the UN. 

At the same time, At the same time, staff at ActionAid Palestine’s partner organization Wefaq Society for Women and Child Care (WEFAQ) say that instances of gender-based violence such as domestic abuse have increased, as families come under strain due to the loss of their jobs or savings, or the stress of repeated displacement. Cases of verbal and sexual harassment are also on the rise in the overcrowded and unsafe sites where most women have been displaced to amid the war.

Asmaa, 40, who works for WEFAQ, said: “Women [have been] majorly affected by the war as they are subjected to violence in different shapes and forms. Violence on women and girls [has been] increasing as the war [has] progressed, whether it [is] domestic violence or violence coming from the Israeli forces. We’ve noticed an increase in [mental health] problems, and domestic violence. A lack of privacy in shelters can lead to verbal and sexual harassment, [even] from the service providers themselves. These incidents are increasing. This has been recorded throughout our work during visits to displacement shelters and camps for women. 

My team and I are part of the displaced women of the community, so we are faced with trauma and ongoing issues on a daily basis. Despite all that, we power through to help other women who live in the same conditions as us.”

Asmaa added: "One of the challenges I face is the difficulty of reaching those women since they need to receive our psychological support sessions more than once due to continuous and repeated displacement. Additionally, the lack of privacy in shelters hinders the provision of sufficient services for women. With the increase in violence cases, the responsibility has become immensely heavy on psychological counsellors who deal with all of these cases and provide them with the necessary support.”

Amid the ongoing tragic circumstances, many organizations continue their fieldwork to support women in Gaza despite the immense challenges they face. The rise in cases of domestic violence and sexual harassment, coupled with the deteriorating physical and psychological conditions of women, highlights the urgent need for sustained support and the provision of health and psychological services tailored to the exceptional circumstances they endure.

About ActionAid International

ActionAid International is a global federation working with over 41 million people living in more than 72 of the world's poorest countries. We envision a world characterized by justice and sustainability, where every individual has the right to a dignified life and freedom, and a world free from poverty and oppression. We strive to achieve social justice, gender equality, and eradicate poverty.

ActionAid Palestine began its work in Palestine in 2007 to strengthen the resilience of the Palestinian people, believing in their right to enjoy freedom, justice, and self-determination. ActionAid Palestine implements several programs through its engagement with Palestinian communities and youth and women’s groups, aiming to empower women and youth and enhance their active civil and political participation to understand their rights and undertake collective action to address the rights violations resulting from the prolonged occupation, in addition to improving their leadership capacity and practicing their citizenship in holding authorities and other duty bearers accountable.

For more information, please contact:

Riham Jafari 

Communication and Advocacy Officer at ActionAid Palestine 

Email: Riham.Jafari@actionaid.org