A recent report from the Center for Political and Development Studies reveals the catastrophic impact of the ongoing war in Gaza on Palestinian women. Since October 7, 2023, over 10,000 women have been killed, including more than 6,000 mothers, leaving behind nearly 19,000 orphaned children. Women and children together constitute almost 70% of the casualties, underscoring the devastating human cost of the conflict on families and communities.

The report highlights profound shifts in gender roles amid the destruction. With infrastructure decimated and resources scarce, thousands of women have become sole providers, often forced to endure harsh conditions gathering firewood and baking bread manually. The collapse of the humanitarian system exacerbates these challenges, as many women give birth without medical support and over 690,000 lack access to basic hygiene supplies.

Researchers also warn of rising gender-based violence in overcrowded shelters, alongside worsening physical and mental health crises. The precarious situation threatens to worsen post-war, with anticipated spikes in unemployment, loss of social protections, reduced educational opportunities for girls, and potential erosion of women’s legal rights during reconstruction.

The report calls urgently for an end to the aggression and the deployment of women-led medical teams, expanded mental health services, and mobile clinics. It stresses the importance of including women in all reconstruction efforts and demands international accountability for what it terms Israeli crimes against Palestinian women, urging investigations by the International Criminal Court.

Ultimately, the report affirms Palestinian women’s resilience and central role in sustaining communities through the crisis. It advocates for a gender-just recovery that recognises their rights and leadership in rebuilding Gaza’s shattered society.