UNFPA Finds Surge in Violence Against Women in Gaza

A sharp rise in reports of violence against women and girls in the Gaza Strip has been documented by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The findings are drawn from data gathered by ten organisations operating in conflict‑torn Gaza.

The UNFPA report identifies an alarming increase in early and forced marriages, noting a 123% jump in the second quarter of 2026 compared with the first. Children as young as 14 are being married off, often for food, money or to curb stigma linked to sexual assault.

Over the past three years, Gaza’s infrastructure has collapsed and thousands have been displaced, eroding social safety nets. UNFPA’s specialist, Nestor Owomuhangi, argues that the war’s violence and economic hardship have dismantled community protection mechanisms, leaving women and girls vulnerable.

The report also highlights a 61% rise in sexual violence incidents—from rape to assault—constituting 2.7% of all gender‑based violence cases recorded between April and June 2026. Most survivors are women aged 18‑59, with 8% adolescent girls and 5% men.

Women in leadership roles or widowed after the conflict are at higher risk of exploitation, with one in four households now headed by a woman. Several testimonies describe women being coerced into marriages with rapists or exchanged for food supplies.

Aid agencies stress that better shelter, sanitation, lighting and security in camps could reduce the dangers for women. The UN has called for Israel to permit higher‑quality shelters, latrine upgrades and other equipment often restricted by dual‑use concerns.

Efforts are also underway to resume education and medical care, alongside long‑term programmes to counter domestic violence and child marriage. Survivors express hope for safer futures, demanding better protection and support as the humanitarian crisis continues.