ICSPR issues a fact sheet titled “The Reality of Gazan Women Amid War, Starvation, and Occupation Violations”
Date: 11 August 2025
Press Release
ICSPR issues a fact sheet titled “The Reality of Gazan Women Amid War, Starvation, and Occupation Violations”
Gaza – The International Commission to Support Palestinians’ Rights (ICSPR) has issued a fact sheet titled “The Reality of Gazan Women Amid War, Starvation, and Occupation Violations”, prepared by Dr. Lina Al-Za’anin – psychologist and member of ICSPR’s Board of Directors. The fact sheet highlights the scale of the tragedy faced by women in the Gaza Strip since the outbreak of the Israeli aggression on 7 October 2023, and the grave violations they have endured, which constitute a blatant breach of international humanitarian law and international provisions for the protection of women in armed conflicts.
The paper explains that Gazan women, who make up nearly half of the Strip’s population, have found themselves at the heart of the catastrophe, bearing multiple burdens including the loss of loved ones and shelter, caring for children and the elderly in unsafe environments, searching for food and water amid systematic starvation, and facing the risks of gender-based violence in displacement areas.
According to Palestinian Ministry of Health data up to August 2025, 21% of the total martyrs are women, totaling (12,887) female martyrs, in addition to thousands of injured and missing women. More than one million women and girls have been displaced under extremely harsh humanitarian conditions. The paper also recorded the death of (43,017) people – most of them women and children – due to famine and malnutrition, as well as the death of (300) women during pregnancy or childbirth due to the lack of necessary medical care.
The paper outlined the main violations faced by women, including:
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Killing and direct targeting: Documentation of the bombing of homes predominantly inhabited by women and children, and targeting women while fetching water or collecting aid – in flagrant violation of the principle of distinction and the prohibition of indiscriminate targeting.
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Forced displacement and loss of shelter: Mass displacement of hundreds of thousands into overcrowded camps or partially destroyed buildings lacking privacy and safety, increasing the risk of harassment and sexual exploitation.
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Arrest, torture, and sexual harassment: Recording of over 450 cases of women and girls being arrested, subjected to physical and psychological torture, denied contact with their families, and threatened with rape.
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Starvation and deprivation of basic needs: A suffocating blockade preventing the entry of food, water, and medicine except in very limited quantities, forcing women to travel long unsafe distances to obtain water, often unfit for drinking.
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Collapse of the healthcare system: 90% of healthcare facilities are completely or partially out of service, with an almost complete absence of reproductive health services, and a sharp rise in maternal and child mortality.
The fact sheet also discussed the profound psychological and social impacts on women, ranging from acute trauma, chronic fear, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, to social isolation, loss of family ties, and the collapse of protective and caregiving roles in families with absent men. It noted that the destruction or closure of most specialized psychosocial support centers has further exacerbated the crisis.
On the legal side, the paper reviewed the international framework for protecting women in conflicts, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, UN Security Council Resolution 1325, the CEDAW Convention, and international humanitarian law, affirming that what is happening in Gaza constitutes war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The ICSPR fact sheet concluded with urgent recommendations, including:
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To the international community: Immediate political and economic pressure to stop the aggression and lift the blockade, ensure unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid, activate international accountability mechanisms, and support reconstruction efforts that address women’s needs.
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To humanitarian organizations: Provide food, clean water, healthcare, clothing, and hygiene supplies to women and girls; establish safe shelters; and offer sustainable psychological and social support.
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To human rights and legal institutions: Systematically document violations and present survivors’ testimonies to international forums; strengthen advocacy campaigns; and provide legal support to detained women and survivors of violence.
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To the health sector: Ensure the continuity and development of health and reproductive services; train medical staff to deal with war-related physical and psychological injuries, particularly for women and children; and launch health and mental awareness campaigns targeting displaced women and girls.
ICSPR stressed that the continuation of the current situation threatens a complete collapse of the social and psychological structure of women in Gaza, with catastrophic long-term consequences for future generations. The organization held the international community fully responsible for stopping these crimes and ensuring urgent protection for Palestinian women.
