Adedokun Waliyu 
The UN Women has reported that more than 38,000 women and girls were killed in the Gaza war between October 2023 and December 2025.
According to the agency, the deaths were largely caused by Israeli airstrikes and ground military operations. The figure includes over 22,000 women and 16,000 girls, averaging at least 47 female deaths per day.
These numbers account for more than half of the 71,000 total deaths recorded by Gaza’s health authorities. However, the UN noted that the actual toll is likely higher, as many bodies remain buried under rubble and reporting systems have been severely disrupted.
The agency highlighted that women and girls have made up a significantly higher proportion of casualties compared to previous conflicts in Gaza, where they accounted for 15 percent of deaths in 2008–2009 and 22 percent in 2014.
Beyond fatalities, nearly 11,000 women and girls have suffered severe injuries, many resulting in permanent disabilities. Survivors continue to face extreme hardship, including repeated displacement, lack of access to essential services, and widespread hunger.
The war has also reshaped family structures, with many households now led by women who have lost their husbands and are struggling to support their families without income or assistance.
Nearly one million women and girls have been displaced multiple times during the conflict, while about 790,000 are experiencing severe or catastrophic levels of food insecurity.
Despite a ceasefire announced in October 2025 following prolonged fighting triggered by earlier hostilities, violence has continued, with hundreds more reported killed since the truce began.
The UN stressed that the humanitarian situation remains critical, with ongoing restrictions on aid access worsening conditions for civilians in Gaza Strip.
