With an astounding 16,000 lives lost in the Israel-Hamas conflict, women and children have emerged as the main casualties, according to UN Women, a United Nations office that promotes gender equality. This is a heartbreaking finding. Since Hamas’ unexpected onslaught on Israel more than a hundred days ago, the battle has wreaked havoc on families, with an estimated two mothers losing their lives every hour.
UN Women’s report, released on Friday, painted a grim picture of the aftermath, highlighting the profound impact on women and children. The agency indicated that at least 3,000 women may have become widows and heads of households, while a heartbreaking 10,000 children may have lost their fathers.
Gender inequality exacerbated by the conflict has placed an immense burden on women, who are forced to flee the fighting with children, often facing displacement repeatedly. Out of the territory’s 2.3 million population, 1.9 million are displaced, with nearly one million being women and girls desperately seeking shelter and safety.
Sima Bahous, the executive director of UN Women, denounced the situation as a “cruel inversion” compared to the 15 years before the Hamas attack, where men accounted for 67% of civilian casualties, and women only 14%.
The plea for a humanitarian cease-fire and the immediate release of hostages, taken captive in Israel on Oct. 7, echoes U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ calls for urgent action to alleviate the dire circumstances.
Despite the grim reality, women-led and women’s rights organizations in Gaza persist in their operations. However, UN Women emphasized the need for increased aid, especially directed towards women and children, along with an urgent call for peace.
As the conflict rages on, UN Women’s report not only sheds light on the harrowing impact on women and children but also calls for global attention and assistance to mitigate the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region. The plea is clear: a call for peace to end the suffering of Israeli and Palestinian women and girls who should no longer bear the heavy price of this conflict.
