The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is creating increasingly dangerous conditions for women and girls, with new UN-backed reporting pointing to a sharp rise in gender-based violence, early marriage and forced marriage. The findings offer a grim picture of how displacement, hunger, bereavement and the collapse of public services are affecting families across the territory.
Reports compiled by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and partner organisations describe growing risks for women and children living in crowded shelters, damaged buildings and makeshift camps. The analysis draws on testimony from 230 women in Gaza City and Khan Younis, alongside data collected by 10 organisations.
Gaza gender-based violence rises amid humanitarian crisis
According to UNFPA reporting, cases of early and forced marriage increased by 123% in the second quarter of 2026 compared with the previous quarter. Early or child marriage refers to marriages involving girls aged between 12 and 17 in the data.
Humanitarian officials say the rise is linked to the destruction of social structures and the extreme pressure placed on families by prolonged conflict. Millions of people have been displaced, while poverty, hunger and insecurity remain widespread. With formal systems weakened or unavailable, families may feel they have few options to protect or support vulnerable children.
Some testimonies describe girls being married after losing one or both parents. Others report marriages arranged because relatives could no longer afford to provide food, shelter or daily care. Aid workers warn that such decisions can expose children to abuse, early pregnancy and permanent disruption to their education.
Displacement increases risks for women and girls
About 1.2 million Palestinians in Gaza are reported to be living in tents or makeshift shelters. Overcrowding, limited privacy and inadequate sanitation have created additional safety concerns, particularly at night.
UN safety assessments indicate that many women and girls avoid using camp toilets and bathrooms after dark because they fear harassment or assault. Women who are widowed, separated from their husbands or whose relatives are missing or detained may face heightened risks of exploitation.
Nearly one in four households is now reportedly headed by a woman, around twice the proportion recorded before the war. Aid organisations say better shelters, lighting, sanitation facilities and confidential reporting systems could reduce some of the dangers.
Child marriage threatens education and health
Before the conflict, girls in Gaza generally outnumbered and outperformed boys in education beyond primary school. Prolonged school closures have changed that picture. Around 700,000 children have missed formal in-person schooling for almost three years, according to the reporting.
Children are now facing pressure to work, care for relatives or enter marriages arranged by adults. For girls, concerns about safety and social expectations can make early marriage appear to families like a form of protection. However, humanitarian agencies stress that marriage does not remove the risks of violence or exploitation.
Early pregnancy is another major concern. Medical and support organisations report that adolescents are more vulnerable to complications, including miscarriage and low birth weight, particularly when they are malnourished and living without reliable healthcare or sanitation.
Sexual violence remains severely under-reported
The UNFPA-led analysis says sexual violence, including rape and sexual assault, has become a critical concern in Gaza. Reported incidents represented 2.7% of all recorded gender-based violence cases between April and June 2026, compared with 2.1% during the previous quarter. The absolute number of reported cases rose by 61%.
These figures do not represent the full scale of the problem. Fear of stigma, retaliation and social consequences prevents many survivors from reporting abuse. Agencies believe that increased awareness and improved confidential reporting channels may partly explain the rise in recorded cases.
Humanitarian support is central to protecting civilians
UN officials and local support groups say protecting women and girls requires more than legal safeguards. Families need access to food, secure accommodation, healthcare, education and protection services. Rebuilding these systems is particularly urgent for children who have been orphaned or separated from their relatives.
- Improve the quality and security of emergency shelters.
- Provide safer toilets, lighting and sanitation facilities.
- Restore access to education for displaced children.
- Expand confidential services for survivors of abuse.
- Support healthcare for adolescents and pregnant women.
- Strengthen programmes addressing domestic and gender-based violence.
Legal experts also warn that the closure or disruption of family courts has weakened oversight around marriage. While Gaza law sets a minimum marital age of 17, exceptions can be granted with parental consent and judicial approval, and reports indicate that courts have been unable to operate normally during much of the conflict.
Read more: Ireland and international news updates
For more coverage of major developments affecting communities at home and abroad, read Ireland breaking news and the latest Irish news, including national affairs, public services and international stories.
Explore more: regional and global affairs
Follow wider updates through Dublin news today and international news reports, or explore global affairs, culture and world developments from across the region.
What happens next for women and girls in Gaza?
Aid agencies say the risks facing women and girls can be reduced if humanitarian access improves and essential services are restored. That includes safe accommodation, functioning schools, reliable healthcare and practical systems for reporting abuse without fear.
The UNFPA findings underline how conflict affects more than immediate survival. When families lose homes, income, education and legal protection, children can face decisions that permanently alter their futures. The clearest takeaway is that preventing child and forced marriage in Gaza requires urgent humanitarian support, accountability and sustained protection for women and girls.
