Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
According to UN Women, over 38,000 women and girls have been killed in Gaza due to Israeli air bombardments and military operations since October 2023, with an estimated daily average of 47 deaths. The fatalities include at least 22,000 women and 16,000 girls, and many more remain trapped under rubble, suggesting the toll could be higher.
The agency's chief of humanitarian action, Sofia Calltorp, noted that among the victims were mothers, daughters, and sisters. Data also indicate that nearly 11,000 women and girls were injured, many with life-altering disabilities. Gazan health authorities reported a total of more than 72,315 Palestinian deaths and over 172,000 injuries in the Gaza Strip during the conflict.
The war has reshaped family structures in Gaza, creating tens of thousands of women-headed households facing increased economic hardship and limited access to basic services. Ms. Calltorp emphasized the urgent need for essentials such as sexual and reproductive health services and sanitary supplies. She recalled instances of women delivering babies in the street due to the lack of functional hospitals and transportation.
UN Women continues work on the ground in Gaza, collaborating with women-led and rights organizations, humanitarian partners, and the UN system to provide lifesaving assistance. The agency calls for full respect for the ceasefire, adherence to international law, and increased humanitarian aid to ensure women and girls are central to recovery and peacebuilding efforts.