Gaza Violence Against Women Escalates, UN Reports Surge in Early Marriages

Reports indicate a significant rise in violence against women and girls in the Gaza Strip, with a sharp increase in early and forced marriages, according to recent findings from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). A protracted crisis in Gaza has fostered conditions that expose women and girls to escalating risks of gender-based violence (GBV).

One UNFPA report, analyzing data from 10 organizations, highlights a severe escalation in early and forced marriage incidents during the second quarter of the current year. Both practices are classified as GBV by the UN. Another report, drawing on testimony from 230 women in displacement camps in Gaza City and Khan Younis, describes violence experienced or witnessed by individuals. Some displaced women reported that rape victims are sometimes married to their assailants to avoid shame, with weddings occurring the day after such cases are discovered. Instances of fathers marrying off young daughters, some as young as 14, in exchange for essential food supplies have also been documented.

While precise figures remain challenging to ascertain, the UNFPA reported a 123% increase in reported cases of early and forced marriage in the second quarter compared to the first. Early or child marriage involves girls between the ages of 12 and 17. Nestor Owomuhangi, the UNFPA representative to Palestine, described these trends as "shocking," attributing them to the breakdown of social structures caused by years of conflict, mass destruction, and displacement.

Public services have largely collapsed in Gaza, with the majority of the population displaced and living in inadequate shelters. Extreme poverty and hunger persist, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict and restrictions on essential supplies.

Prior to the recent conflict, girls in Gaza reportedly excelled academically. However, prolonged school closures have led to increased dropout rates. Boys face pressure to find informal work to support families, while girls encounter heightened safety concerns. In a socially conservative society, with limited privacy in crowded camps, marrying daughters is sometimes seen as a measure to protect them and preserve modesty. Orphaned girls are particularly vulnerable, with uncles reportedly marrying them off to alleviate the responsibility and financial burden.

The Women's Affairs Center in Gaza, collaborating with the UNFPA, has documented cases of adolescent girls, some in their early teens, being married and subsequently suffering abuse and pregnancy. These young mothers face significantly higher risks of miscarriage and delivering underweight babies due to underdeveloped bodies and challenging living conditions.

The UN and humanitarian organizations define marriages of girls under 18 as early marriage. While this practice was more common in Gaza than the occupied West Bank even before the recent conflict, it had been declining. Legal loopholes, including parental consent and judicial authorization, have allowed for marriages of girls as young as 14 years and seven months, with some legal safeguards reportedly weakened during the war.

Personal accounts reveal instances where marriage was arranged due to the perceived lack of guardianship for young girls whose fathers were killed. The girls, described as having a "child's mindset," miss their education and former lives. In other cases, 17-year-old boys were married to 16-year-old cousins after male relatives were killed, leading to the teenage girls becoming pregnant and unable to return to school.

Sexual violence in Gaza is under-reported due to fear of stigma and retaliation. UN safety audits indicate particular risks for women and girls at night, leading them to avoid communal facilities. Incidents of sexual violence, including rape and sexual assault, have surged, accounting for a 61% increase in absolute case numbers between the first and second quarters of the current year. Survivors are predominantly women aged 18-59, followed by adolescent girls and adult men. Widows or women with missing or detained husbands face increased risks of sexual abuse and exploitation, with a significant rise in female-headed households.

Aid agencies advocate for improved humanitarian conditions, including the provision of adequate shelters, sanitation facilities, and lighting. Israel has placed restrictions on certain items deemed to have potential dual use. Efforts are underway to enhance education and healthcare, with long-term plans for campaigns against domestic violence and child marriage. Women in Gaza express hopes for a safer future.