Over 12,000 Women Killed By Israeli Aggression In Gaza - Ministry

NEW YORK, March 9 (Bernama-WAFA) -- The Palestinian Women Affairs Ministry has released a comprehensive report marking International Women’s Day, shedding light on the severe and widespread effects of Israeli military aggression on Palestinian women across the West Bank, Gaza, Jerusalem, and the diaspora.

Palestinian news agency WAFA citing the report said the ongoing aggression in Gaza has taken a particularly devastating toll on women, with 12,298 women having lost their lives due to Israeli airstrikes and military attacks.

In addition, 928 Palestinians, including women and children, have been killed in the West Bank, since the outbreak of the war.  

Approximately 1 million women in Gaza have been forcibly displaced, and 1.2 million people in total, including countless women and children, have lost their homes. This mass displacement has left women vulnerable to poverty, violence, and a lack of access to basic services.

The report highlights a severe economic crisis, particularly for women in Gaza. Unemployment rates among women have surged to an alarming 95 per cent, compared to 67.6 per cent before the war.

In addition, 91 per cent of Gaza’s population - or 1.84 million people - is now facing severe food insecurity, with 96 per cent of infants under six months suffering from acute malnutrition.

Furthermore, 90 per cent of pregnant and breastfeeding women in Gaza do not have access to adequate nutrition, it reported.

The suspension of UNRWA services has also deprived 41,571 Palestinian women of essential healthcare services. The report also notes that 22,835 people with disabilities in Gaza, including many women, lack access to necessary healthcare and psychological support.

The impact on children is equally severe. The closure of schools and the suspension of UNRWA’s educational services have deprived 324,000 Palestinian students of education, including 278,000 in Gaza.

In terms of physical infrastructure, the report notes that 87,000 housing units have been completely destroyed in Gaza, with 297,000 partially damaged.

The widespread destruction has left thousands of women without shelter. Food prices in Gaza have also skyrocketed by 309.4 per cent, making it nearly impossible for many families to afford basic necessities.

The report also sheds light on the situation in the West Bank and Jerusalem, where 21.6 per cent of residents in refugee camps live in poverty, with 6 per cent in extreme poverty.

Meanwhile, 41.6 per cent of Palestinian families in Jerusalem rely on the Israeli economy for income, leaving them vulnerable to economic instability.

-- BERNAMA-WAFA