U.N. Reports Women and Children Bear Heavy Toll in Israel-Hamas Conflict

According to the United Nations agency promoting gender equality, women and children are the primary victims in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, with approximately 16,000 people killed so far. Shockingly, this means that two mothers lose their lives every hour since Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel. UN Women also reported that as a result of the conflict, around 3,000 women may have become widows and heads of households, while approximately 10,000 children may have lost their fathers.

In a recently released report, the agency highlighted the gender inequality and the challenges faced by women fleeing the fighting with their children, repeatedly being displaced. Out of Gaza’s 2.3 million population, 1.9 million people are currently displaced, and nearly one million of them are women and girls seeking shelter and safety.

Sima Bahous, the executive director of UN Women, described this situation as a “cruel inversion” compared to the previous 15 years before the Hamas attack. Earlier, 67% of all civilians killed in Gaza and the West Bank were men, while less than 14% were women. Bahous echoed the calls of U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for a humanitarian cease-fire and the immediate release of all hostages taken captive in Israel during the October 7 attack.

Bahous emphasized the urgent need for unrestricted humanitarian assistance, an end to the destruction and killing, and the provision of safety, medicine, healthcare, and shelter for the women and girls of Gaza. She also highlighted the imminent starvation and famine faced by these women and girls, as well as their deprivation of hope and justice.

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza reported that nearly 25,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, with 70% of them being women and children. The United Nations also noted that more than half a million people in Gaza, a quarter of the population, are currently starving.

In Israel, approximately 1,200 people were killed during the October 7 attack by Hamas, and around 250 people were taken hostage. It is believed that over 100 hostages are still being held captive in Gaza.

Bahous revealed that UN Women has received shocking accounts of unconscionable sexual violence committed by Hamas during the attacks. She joined the U.N. in calling for accountability, justice, and support for all those affected.

Despite the escalating hostilities in Gaza, women-led and women’s rights organizations are still operating. According to the agency, 83% of the women’s organizations surveyed in the Gaza Strip are partially operational, mainly focusing on emergency response to the war.

However, UN Women’s analysis of funding from last year’s flash appeal for Gaza showed that only 0.09% of the funds went directly to national or local women’s rights organizations.

Bahous stressed the urgent need for more aid to reach Gaza, especially for women and children, and called for an end to the war. She emphasized that this is a time for peace and that Israeli and Palestinian women and girls should not have to pay the price for a conflict that is not theirs.