Introduction:
Samah Abu Latifa’s anguished plea echoes through the desolation of Gaza: “What have my children done to deserve this? What is our fault? What have my children done?” (Reuters, 2023). Her heart-rending words are a stark reflection of the daily anguish endured by countless Gazan mothers, a cry lost in the world’s resounding silence.
In the fragile socio-political landscape of Gaza, women and girls stand as symbols of both resilience and vulnerability. Their challenges are manifold, yet their unwavering spirit offers a glimmer of hope amid overwhelming despair. Their remarkable resolve and strength in the face of unimaginable hardships stand as a testament to the indomitable spirit of Gazan women. In their unwavering determination to be heard, these courageous women serve as a stark reminder of the urgent and unyielding need to address the fundamental needs and rights of Gazan women. Their stories, filled with pain and sacrifice, demand not just sympathy but also action. They are the living embodiment of hope in the face of hopelessness, and their resilience is a testament to the indomitable spirit of Gazan women.
The Significance of the Current Situation in Gaza, Particularly for Women and Children:
Amid the wreckage and the relentless onslaught of violence in Gaza, it is the women and children who bear the brunt of the suffering. According to an official statement, as reported by Save the Children, nearly 70% of those killed in Gaza are children and women (Balachuk, 2023). Picture the plight of 493,000 women and girls, torn from their homes and thrust into a nightmarish existence (US Women, 2023). They endure overcrowded refugee camps and makeshift shelters, where every day is a struggle for survival, a fight against despair.
In this harrowing landscape, one can’t help but recall the heart-wrenching account given to UNFPA by a 30-year-old pregnant woman. Bravely, she disclosed how she sought sanctuary in the shadows amidst the terrifying bombardments. Since her forced departure from home, she has been consumed by an overwhelming wave of dizziness, fatigue, and an incessant pounding headache. With tears in her eyes, she conveyed the profound intensity of her struggle, emphasizing, “Each step felt like a race against death,” carrying the weight of her fragile existence with every stride (United Nations Population Fund, 2023).
These women, burdened by the loss of their spouses and children, become the reluctant pillars of their shattered households. The media often fails to reveal the raw pain etched into their faces, the silent screams of mothers who have seen their children’s lives torn apart. It is crucial to recognize their unyielding strength, and their determination to protect their families in the face of relentless adversity.
In Gaza, where healthcare facilities have become targets, the toll on women is immeasurable. Over 60 per cent of primary healthcare centers have been closed due to airstrikes (Cohen, 2023). The Israeli warplanes bombed the vicinity of the Turkish hospital in Gaza city, causing panic among medical crews, patients, and displaced residents, as reported by Eye on Palestine (2023). Imagine the fear experienced by pregnant women, 50,000 of whom are currently expecting and 5,522 who are about to bring life into a world of chaos (UN Women, 2023). The strained healthcare system forces them to deliver at home amidst bombings and limited resources. Even the largest hospital in Gaza, Al-Ahli Hospital, stands as a symbol of despair, its closure a tragic testament to the genocide’s brutality, costing hundreds of lives (BBC News, 2023). In a heart-wrenching account reported by Reuters, the lives of 36 precious infants at Gaza’s Al Shifa Hospital hang in precarious balance. Weighing a mere 700 to 800 grams, these delicate souls lie side-by-side on ordinary beds, devoid of the vital incubators and individual adjustments needed to safeguard their fragile existence. Exposed to the looming threat of infection, their vulnerable lives teeter on the precipice of uncertainty. Amidst this unfathomable adversity, even the women who bring them into this world bear witness to indescribable challenges and profound anguish. The plight of these innocent newborns serves as a poignant testament to the immense suffering endured within Gaza’s besieged healthcare facilities (2023).
It is important to acknowledge that Israel’s targets are mainly civilians, and the majority are children. For instance, an ambulance was destroyed by Israeli bombardment in Gaza, as reported by Eye on Palestine (2023). This incident hampers the crucial efforts to provide aid to the increasing number of injured individuals, which currently stands at over 4,629 and continues to rise, according to UN Women (2023). By targeting civilians, especially women and children, through bombardment, injured individuals face significant challenges in accessing the aid they urgently need.
Gaza is facing a dire situation, with a blackout depriving its residents of media, internet, and electricity, as well as limited access to food and water. The world’s silence in the face of these overwhelming atrocities is disheartening. The suffering is not confined to a specific group; rather, it affects everyone in Gaza, regardless of their background. These conditions are undeniably inhumane. It is crucial to note that war should adhere to established rules. The deliberate targeting of women, children, animals, trees, press, healthcare facilities, and rescue workers goes against these principles. Israel’s actions are in direct opposition to these rules, leading to immense suffering and chaos. It is evident that they are pursuing a different agenda, causing havoc in the region.
The sealed borders of the Beit Hanoun and Rafah crossings have cast the Gaza Strip into a profound abyss of despair and isolation. The people within, cut off from the world, face a relentless struggle for survival as essential aid trickles in at a painfully slow pace, if at all. The vital lifeline of fuel, crucial for hospitals and basic infrastructure, has been choked off by an Israeli ban, rationalized as a security measure against the “Hamas war effort.” This decision has left the already beleaguered population in a desperate plight, their cries for help echoing unanswered in the barren streets. Their situation, a heart-wrenching tableau of human suffering, is made more acute by the scarcity of food and medical supplies. Amidst this harrowing backdrop, the Rafah border emerges as a slender thread of hope, a fragile bridge to a world that seems to have turned its back. The people of Gaza, their spirits battered yet unbroken, look towards this passage with eyes filled with a mix of despair and hope, yearning for the world to see beyond politics to their humanity. Compounding this situation, there is only a small trickle of trucks crossing the Rafah border since its opening on October 21, a daily average which is less than 21% of what it used to be before the crisis. Their plight, as poignantly highlighted by ReliefWeb (2023) and The Global Health (2023), is a stark reminder of the urgent need for compassionate intervention, underscoring the necessity to place human dignity and rights at the forefront of global response.
In the harrowing landscape of war, the psychological burden of waiting becomes an insufferable weight, suffocating the spirits of those ensnared within its grasp. The absence of stability and the ceaseless anticipation of danger inflict deep wounds upon the soul. The relentless wait for death, shrouded in fear and uncertainty, inflicts a pain that cuts deeper than any physical harm. It’s a slow erosion of hope, an unending battle against despair, and a haunting reminder that the toll of war transcends mere mortality.
“We can’t endure this any longer,” she expressed, her anguish palpable. Their grief intensifies with the inability to visit their stranded relatives, confined by the lurking dangers outside. Each morning, Farahat and her family awaken, grateful for their safety while bearing the weight of relentless uncertainty (“Voices from Gaza: Hayam’s Story,” 2023).
“We wait, wondering when it will be our turn to face the unimaginable,” she confided. As the air strikes resumed, Farahat felt compelled to leave and be with her family. With a heavy heart, she concluded our conversation, expressing her deepest wish: that if an airstrike were to strike them, it would be while they slept in peaceful slumber” (“Voices from Gaza: Hayam’s Story,” 2023).
Activities of Organizations Providing Aid to Gaza:
In the midst of this unfathomable tragedy, there are heroes who refuse to stand idly by. Among them is the Palestinian Family Planning and Protection Association (PFPPA). Wafa Abu-Hashish, a health worker at PFPPA in Gaza, bears witness to the grim realities on the ground, from the limited water supply to the increasing prevalence of diseases (2023). Women and girls in shelters endure disruptions in their menstrual cycles, along with reports of sexually transmitted infections and urinary tract infections. In an act of immense solidarity, women who have access to contraceptive pills share them with others in desperate need.
Yet, Ammal Awadallah, the Executive Director of PFPPA, voices a heartbreaking truth. Pregnant women, even when fortunate enough to reach a healthcare facility, must leave within hours after delivery due to overcrowding, lack of space, and resources (2023). The resilience of these women and the tireless efforts of organizations like PFPPA are beacons of hope amidst the darkness.
UN Women’s Urgent Plea:
Sarah Hendriks, UN Women Deputy Executive Director, ad interim, emphasizes the immediate need for a humanitarian ceasefire and unimpeded access to critical humanitarian aid, including food, water, fuel, and health supplies in Gaza. She asserts that this access is vital for the survival of women and girls in the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, Hendriks underscores the importance of ensuring access to services for women and girls, preventing gender-based violence, and supporting women-led organizations at the forefront of the humanitarian response. She calls on the international community to wholeheartedly support and invest in these organizations, promoting the meaningful participation of women in humanitarian and political processes (UN Women, 2023).
