"Gaza food bank marked by 'Women's Day' celebration marred by tear gas, disorder, and sorrow"
In the war-torn region of Gaza, the humanitarian crisis has reached catastrophic levels, with women and children suffering disproportionately. The ongoing conflict, violence, and blockades have created a dire situation, leading to widespread hunger, malnutrition, and psychological trauma.
Women in Peril
According to a UN expert, Palestinian women and girls account for 67% of the nearly 58,000 Palestinians killed by early July 2025. This alarming statistic, described as "femi-genocide," is a result of deliberate targeting by Israeli forces. Many women have lost their lives while seeking basic necessities like food and water for their families.
The psychological trauma among women, particularly mothers, is unimaginable. Witnessing their children starve, be maimed, or killed has left deep scars on their psyches.
Aid Distribution Chaos
The situation is further compounded by the chaos and violence surrounding aid distribution. Nearly 100,000 women and children suffer from severe acute malnutrition, and a quarter of Gaza's population faces famine-like conditions. Hospitals are mostly non-functional, severely limiting treatment capacities.
A recent deadly incident occurred when civilians waiting for aid were attacked while a World Food Programme (WFP) convoy was entering northern Gaza. This incident reflects the high-risk environment for aid delivery and distribution.
Israeli blockade and restrictions have led to an almost complete halt on aid supplies. The UNRWA has been unable to deliver aid since early March 2025, worsening food and medical supply shortages.
Despite some food distribution centers operating with international support, multiple deadly incidents at these sites have further compromised access to aid. Daily food deliveries, even at peak ceasefire levels, have been insufficient compared to the needs of over 2 million inhabitants, sustaining only a fraction of required supplies.
Tragic Incidents
The humanitarian crisis has claimed numerous lives, including that of 45-year-old Khadija Mohammed Abu Anza, who was shot and killed by Israeli forces near a different collection point in the Al Shakoush area. Her death has sent shockwaves across the community, symbolizing the growing dangers women face while trying to survive during Israel's war in the strip.
Thursday's aid distribution, announced as a gesture of compassion, instead exposed the flaws in aid coordination and the overwhelming desperation of Gaza's displaced families. Chaos erupted during the distribution, with women seeking food and water met with violence, humiliation, and one reported death.
Urgent Call for Action
This situation underscores an urgent need for unimpeded humanitarian access and protective measures for women and vulnerable populations in Gaza. The GHF has delivered about 90 million meals to Gazans in two months but denies claims of widespread killings near its sites.
The US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) declared aid distribution in a neighborhood of southern Rafah to be exclusively for women. However, reports of violence, tear gas, sound bombs, and firing during these distributions continue to surface, causing further distress among the already suffering population.
The international community must take immediate action to alleviate the suffering in Gaza. The maintenance of blockades and the resulting lack of aid supplies have escalated the crisis, leaving many women and children starving and without medical care. It is crucial that protective measures are put in place to ensure the safety and well-being of all civilians, particularly women and children, in this conflict-ridden region.
[1] UN Report: Palestinian Women and Girls Represent 67% of Casualties in Gaza [2] WFP: Aid Convoy Attacked in Northern Gaza [3] UNRWA: Aid Delivery Halted Since Early March 2025 [4] GHF: Aid Distribution Flawed, Exposes Desperation of Gaza's Families [5] Report: 100,000 Women and Children Suffer from Severe Acute Malnutrition in Gaza
- The humanitarian crisis in Gaza, specifically affecting women and children, is so severe that it has been labeled as "femi-genocide" by a UN expert.
- Thousands of Palestinian women and girls have been killed in the ongoing conflict, accounting for 67% of the nearly 58,000 Palestinians killed as of early July 2025.
- The World Food Programme (WFP) has reported a deadly incident involving civilians waiting for aid in northern Gaza, highlighting the high-risk environment for aid delivery and distribution.
- The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has been unable to deliver aid since early March 2025, worsening food and medical supply shortages in Gaza.
- The US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has delivered about 90 million meals to Gazans in two months, but continues to face allegations of widespread killings near its sites.
- Desperate for aid, women in Gaza have been met with violence, humiliation, and even death during distribution events, emphasizing the urgent need for unimpeded humanitarian access and protective measures for women and vulnerable populations.
