UN report alleges Gaza war worsened sexual violence risks for Palestinian women
Palestinians attempt to extinguish a fire following an Israeli air strike that hit a vehicle in Gaza City, September 19, 2026. (photo credit: REUTERS/STRINGER) 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. Security measures taken by Israel following Hamas’s October 7 attack , Israeli and American humanitarian efforts, and the displacement of Gaza’s civilian population during the war have increased both the severity and frequency of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) experienced by Palestinian women in the territory, the United Nations Population Fund alleged in a report released last week. Based on information collected from 230 displaced adult women who participated in group discussions hosted by the Women’s Affairs Center between December 2025 and January 2026, UNFPA concluded that Israel’s military response to Hamas had resulted in Palestinian women being...