In brief
UN reports find a steep spike in gender‑based violence in Gaza, with early and forced marriages up 123 % in a six‑month period. Rape victims are often wed to their attackers to hide scandal, and families trade girls for food amid severe shortages. Women and girls now face heightened sexual harassment, with sexual assault cases up 61 % thanks to better reporting. Humanitarian aid calls for improved shelters, sanitation and safe spaces, while the ongoing war erodes social safety nets. These changes threaten the future of Gaza’s young women and the entire community’s stability.
Recent UNFPA data shows a shocking rise in violence against women and girls in Gaza. The figures include early marriages, forced marriages, and sexual assaults.
In the second quarter of this year, cases of early (age 12–17) and forced marriage jumped 123 % from the first quarter. Some families even arrange deals where a girl is married off to a man in exchange for food, a grim reality that almost never existed before the war.
Rape victims are often married to their attackers to protect their families from stigma, as one interviewee explained. Sexual abuse incidents have climbed 61 % as survivors now feel safer reporting, yet many remain silent out of fear.
The crisis has destroyed homes, schools and health services, forcing kids into camps where privacy is a myth. Access to safe toilets and proper sanitation is limited, putting women at higher risk of abuse especially at night.
Aid workers see a way out: better shelters, upgraded latrines, security lighting, and programs that keep girls in school and out of early marriage. While the war continues, these steps could help girls feel safer and retain a chance at a better future.
