"In the southwest of Gaza City, amidst the chaos, hope becomes a skill, and survival is a testament to the strength within us all."

Though Ibtisam spends her nights in a shared hall at the shelter with very little privacy, it serves as a stark reminder of her solitude. The yearning to reunite with scattered family members, heightened by the loss of a loved one’s due to the war, inhabits her dreams. Communication barriers only deepen her sense of isolation, and Ibtisam confesses to often crying herself to sleep, longing for the embrace of her family and the comforting laughter of nieces and nephews.

More than 2 million Palestinians in Gaza face inhumane living conditions today. Gaza has become a protection crisis for women, with close to one million women and girls displaced and two mothers killed every hour, since the beginning of the crisis.

80% of women in Gaza depend on food assistance to survive, and women-led organizations are uniquely equipped to support them, according to new UN Women Gender Alert.

This is not just a story of War, but a story of Love. This is not merely a tale of Despair, but a narrative of Hope. This is simply a story of Eternity, the story of Amani—a story never imagined would end. It's also the collective story of Amani, Lamia, Najla, and all the Women of Gaza, losing their lives and facing a war not just on Gaza itself, but on its women. These women are pillars of strength: Mothers, Daughters, Sisters, Doctors, Leaders, and more. Yet, they are losing their dignity, hope, loved ones, and their very lives.

New UN Women survey data from Rafah highlights the depth of physical and mental despair, with 93% of women interviewed feeling unsafe and over half reporting medical conditions requiring urgent attention. With any Israeli ground invasion, these number will soar.

After the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel, followed by the Israeli Armed Forces’ strikes on Gaza, UN Women has worked to analyse the differentiated impact on women, men, boys, and girls, to ensure adequate responses to their needs.

More than one million Palestinian women and girls in Gaza have almost no access to food or safe water, with disease growing amidst inhumane living conditions.

“Living through the war is like living through a nightmare,” said Safa Btah. A 29-year-old mother of two, Btah was displaced from her home in Gaza City while six months pregnant with her third child. “We were forced to flee our home, leaving behind everything we knew and loved”, she said. Btah and her family first sought refuge in the southern city of Khan Younis, only to be met by further Israeli bombardments and sniper fire, forcing them to continue further south to Rafah.

Three Palestinian women speak about how the war in Gaza has impacted women’s lives, amid an unfolding famine and calls for an immediate ceasefire.

Forty-seven-year-old single mother of four, Hala has not only survived domestic violence but has now emerged as a symbol of strength, hope, and compassion amidst the adversities of the ongoing war in Gaza. Her story is one of unwavering determination, self-improvement, and giving back to her community when they need it the most.

Duha Shellah, 26 years old, is a Palestinian young doctor and medical journalist. She is the founder & CEO of the Researchist, a research community working to increase youth and women’s representation in research and science. In 2022, Duha was recognized as one of the world’s 21 outstanding young physicians by the Inter-Academy Partnership in Berlin, Germany. She is also an Eastern Mediterranean Region Delegate at World Federation of Public Health Associations (Young Council). Additionally, Duha is a coordinator at the Medical & Health Sciences division of the Palestine Academy for Science and Technology. Among other things, Duha is the Student Editor-in-Chief and Ambassador at the International Journal of Medical Students.

Ameera, 24, was born with a vision impairment. She lives in Ramallah with her siblings and parents. She has a degree in English Language and Literature and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Community Development. Ameera also works at EducAid, an international non-profit organization, where she helps people with disabilities overcome learning and employment challenges.

Israa Abu Dawod, 32, was born with a complete vision impairment. She lives with her parents and brother (also with vision impairment) in Hebron in the West Bank. Both of her parents have health issues and are unable to work. Israa holds a bachelor’s degree in Arabic Language Teaching, and hosts a weekly radio programme on the rights of people with disabilities. Israa was among the 300 women who received cash for work opportunities by UN Women in Palestine. Generously supported by the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), UN Women’s Cash for Work Programme offers economically vulnerable women, particularly those with disabilities, temporary work opportunities coupled with vocational trainings and protection services, to help them pursue more sustainable livelihood.

Rabab Nofel, 30, lives with her two-year-old son and husband in a rented apartment in Gaza. She was born with a disability that restricts her movement. To make a living and support her son, Rabab creates and sells perfumes from home, but her livelihood often gets disrupted, particularly during escalations of violence. Women with disabilities have limited opportunities in Gaza to build economic resilience. Only around four per cent of women with disabilities participate in the workforce.

Zahra Ahmed, 38, lives with a physical disability, and suffers from diabetes, pituitary tumours, and bowel cancer. She is a refugee living at Al Shatee refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. She had to drop out of school when her parents died. Zahra was among the women who received cash assistance and cash for work opportunity. She worked as an office helper at the Palestinian General Union of People with Disabilities from December 2021 to March 2022. These services were also paired with skill development trainings and gender-based violence (GBV) protection services including legal counselling, awareness-raising sessions, and psychosocial support; all provided by UN Women through the generous funding from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

Statement by UN Women Palestine and UN Women Regional Office for the Arab States. UN Women joins the United Nations Secretary General and other UN entities in voicing grave concern at the continuing violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, particularly the targeting of civilian populations and killing of innocent people, including women and children.

Mona Al-Najmi, 34, is divorced and lives with her three children in the Maghazi Refugee Camp in central Gaza. The camp area is densely populated and lacks adequate infrastructure while its inhabitants face poverty and high unemployment rates.

Today, as head of the Palestinian Civil Police Family & Juvenile Protection Unit, Lieutenant Colonel Wafa Muammar is the highest-ranking female officer in the police, in spite of societal pressure to give up on her dream to serve the country through her work. Palestine, at just 17 per cent, has one of the lowest rates of female participation in the labour force globally. Muammar, a proud wife and mother of four, has had the courage to build a successful career in parallel, leading the way for other women in the police.

UN Women is working with the Attorney General’s Office in Palestine on a human-rights-based approach to handling cases of domestic and gender-based violence, by training public prosecutors in line with international standards and developing operating procedures.