In December 2014, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor published a report entitled “Jurf al-Zuhur”, which traces the violations suffered by Palestinian women during the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip in 2014. According to the report, 489 women were attacked by the Israeli army during that year.
Once again, the horrors of war are unfolding. The war launched by the occupation forces on the Gaza Strip has led to the displacement of 11,314 women to shelters and the killing of more than 30,000 Palestinian women and children. Meanwhile, UN experts have raised urgent concerns regarding the plight of Palestinian women in Gaza.
UN experts condemn and accuse
In a letter published on February 19, UN Human Rights Council experts expressed deep concern over the arbitrary detention of hundreds of Palestinian women and girls in the Gaza and West Bank regions since October 7. Many have reportedly been subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment, as well as deprived of basic necessities such as sanitary napkins, food and medicine. These women were allegedly victims of severe physical assaults. On at least one occasion, Palestinian women detained in Gaza were reportedly locked in a cage exposed to rain and cold, without access to food.
“We are outraged by reports of multiple sexual assaults against Palestinian women and girls in detention, including the stripping and searching of Israeli army officers.” According to these reports, at least two Palestinian detainees were victims of rape, while others were threatened with rape and sexual violence. The reports also noted that explicit photographs of the detained women, taken by the Israeli military, were distributed online.
Experts expressed concern about the disappearance of Palestinian women and children, including girls, following clashes with the Israeli army in Gaza. “There are worrying reports of the occupying army forcibly relocating at least one baby to Israel, as well as children separated from their parents, whose whereabouts remain unknown,” the experts said. The experts reminded the occupation of its obligation to respect the right to life, security, health and dignity of Palestinian women and girls, stressing the prohibition of resorting to violence, torture, ill-treatment and degrading treatment, including sexual violence. They called for an independent, impartial, prompt, thorough and effective investigation into these allegations and requested the cooperation of the occupation authorities in these investigations. The experts emphasized that “when considering the alleged actions as a whole, they could potentially amount to severe breaches of human rights and international humanitarian law. These violations could be classified as serious crimes under international criminal law, thereby making them subject to prosecution under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.” According to the experts, the perpetrators of these crimes must be held accountable for their actions, and the victims and their families must have the right to full compensation and fair justice.
Break the silence to be on the right side of history
If stories of the suffering endured by Palestinian women continue to emerge, the world’s awareness of these atrocities grows. Despite the thousands of demonstrations that have been organized around the world, and the speeches that have been made at the largest gatherings, Palestinian women still face an unsustainable daily life.
The grim reality of the ongoing war is brought to light through the words of Haya Abdulhadi, an Oxfam employee displaced within Gaza, who recently shared on social media: “Every night as I go to sleep, I am uncertain whether I will see another day.” The 29-year-old, recounting her ordeal to an AFP journalist, said she walked five kilometers between her home and Jabalia camp with her three young children. There, she was able to find transportation to Deir el-Balah where the doctor told her that her pregnancy, which was only six months old, was in danger. Eight months later, doctors had to perform a caesarean section that resulted in the birth of four twins amid the chaos of war.
Currently in Gaza, up to 50,000 pregnant women need regular monitoring throughout their pregnancy, while 5,500 women are about to give birth and 180 babies are born every day. The deterioration of the health system aggravates their situation, depriving them of adequate birth control. Even if they have the fuel to ensure their travel, the trip to the hospital is still very dangerous. In addition, hospital selection becomes a dilemma, because out of the 30 hospitals, 16 are still active and are under great pressure to secure health services.
In a recent statement, the General Federation of Palestinian Trade Unions (PGFTU) revealed that 60,000 pregnant women among the displaced in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, are about to give birth, while more than 180 women give birth daily. In Rafah, where attacks are currently the most violent, 60,000 pregnant women are at risk of giving birth in inhumane conditions.
Due to the lack of access to water for proper hygiene, many women are compelled to shave their hair as a precautionary measure for their health. Their daily suffering increases during the menstrual period. The PGFTU also said 20,000 children were born during the war, in appalling conditions, and two women lose their lives every hour. 3,000 women have become widows, and these brave women are caring for 14,000 families. The figures recorded by PGFTU reveal that 8,570 women were killed, including 16 journalists and 100 teachers.
Supporting Palestinian workers and women internationally:
During an extraordinary session with members of the General Council of the British Trade Union Congress dedicated to the situation in Gaza, the Executive Secretary of the Arab Trade Union Confederation, Hind bin Ammar, called for a focus on the plight of women in the region. She explained that the Palestinian cause goes beyond the simple geopolitical dimension to become an issue of basic rights and confiscated land.
“Over the past 90 days, we have witnessed a horrific massacre in Gaza, which has exacerbated the humanitarian situation and pushed the population into increasing despair, paving the way for an economic downturn estimated at 16 years. The toll is more than dramatic. More than 24,000 people were killed, 70% of the victims were women and children, while the number of wounded currently exceeds 59,000, including 25% women and children. ” “It is necessary not to underestimate the disproportionate impact of this conflict on women and children. The collapse of women-oriented health services is alarming, especially in light of the presence of about 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza.”
She added, “We expect an increase in the poverty rate among women in Gaza.” It is noteworthy to mention that in three months, the poverty rate in Gaza increased by 34%, and 61% of the population lost their livelihoods. She warned that Gaza’s GDP experienced a staggering 12% decline in just three months, accompanied by a monthly increase of 10% in food prices. Additionally, there has been a noticeable decrease in the availability of food products in the markets.
