Geneva, April 17, 2026 (WAFA) – UN Women said that more than 38,000 women and girls were killed in the Gaza Strip by the end of last year, which is equivalent to 47 martyrs per day, as a result of the war of extermination committed by the Israeli occupation forces on the Strip since October 7, 2023.
A report issued by the commission on Friday showed that 22,000 women and 16,000 girls were killed between October 2023 and December 2025 as a result of Israeli air strikes and ground military operations.
He added, “Despite the ceasefire declared last October, reports indicate that the killing of women and girls has continued in recent months, confirming that the threats to their lives still exist.”
She called for adherence to the ceasefire and international law, for the wide and unhindered provision of humanitarian aid, and for the protection of women and girls who continue to face severe suffering .
“The victims are more than just numbers,” said Sofia Kaltorp, head of the humanitarian action division at UN Women, in a briefing to journalists in Geneva. “They were mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends, deeply loved by those around them. They were individuals with their own lives and dreams.”
In addition to the shocking death toll, the report indicated that nearly 11,000 women and girls suffered lifelong disabilities.
The report also noted that the actual number of female martyrs is likely higher, given that many of their bodies are still under the rubble, while the collapse of health information systems has greatly restricted the process of documenting martyrs and injuries .
Kaltorp said that this war “has reshaped the structure of families, with women now supporting tens of thousands of families after losing their husbands, and they are supporting their families without income, without support, and without access to basic services.”
She added that “the extensive damage to infrastructure has made it almost impossible for women and girls in Gaza to access their basic needs, such as healthcare.”
She noted that “the situation has been exacerbated by the recent military escalation in the Middle East region, as the closure of crossings and restrictions on access to humanitarian aid have further restricted access to life-saving support.”
The UN official stressed the need to respect international law, impose accountability for violations committed, and ensure the protection of women and girls, and that humanitarian aid must reach those in need on a wide scale and without any obstacles, and that women and girls must be at the heart of response and recovery efforts.
She concluded by saying: “International humanitarian law and human rights law have not failed. Rather, the failure lies with those who choose to ignore these laws, those who have the power to enforce them, and the profound lack of humanity that has allowed this horror in Gaza to continue.”
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R.H.
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