UN says 2 Palestinian mothers killed every hour in Israel-Gaza war: ‘this is not their conflict’
- The United Nations agency promoting gender equality said at least 3,000 women may have become widows and at least 10,000 children may have lost their fathers
- It added many women and girls face imminent starvation and are ‘deprived of hope and justice’
As a result of the more than 100-day conflict, UN Women added, at least 3,000 women may have become widows and heads of households and at least 10,000 children may have lost their fathers.
In a report released on Friday, the agency pointed to gender inequality and the burden on women fleeing the fighting with children and being displaced again and again. Of the territory’s 2.3 million population, it said, 1.9 million are displaced and “close to 1 million are women and girls” seeking shelter and safety.
UN Women’s executive director, Sima Bahous, said this is “a cruel inversion” of fighting during the 15 years before the Hamas attack on October 7. Previously, she said, 67 per cent of all civilians killed in Gaza and the West Bank were men and less than 14 per cent were women.
She echoed UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ calls for a humanitarian ceasefire and the immediate release of all hostages taken captive in Israel on October 7.
“However much we mourn the situation of the women and girls of Gaza today, we will mourn further tomorrow without unrestricted humanitarian assistance and an end to the destruction and killing,” Bahous said in a statement accompanying the report.
“These women and girls are deprived of safety, medicine, healthcare and shelter. They face imminent starvation and famine. Most of all they are deprived of hope and justice,” she said.