Palestinian women and girls must be at the heart of decision-making about the future of Gaza, according to ActionAid Ireland 

ActionAid Ireland said today that Palestinian women and girls who bore the brunt of the brutal 15-month war in Gaza should no longer be sidelined but be placed at the centre of all decision-making about Gaza’s future. In a statement to mark International Women’s Day, ActionAid Ireland said women’s leadership and participation must be a non-negotiable priority in the rebuilding and reconstruction process.  

“This International Women’s Day, women all over the world should raise their voices and stand in solidarity alongside the women of Palestine. No peace, no reconstruction, and no future for Gaza is possible without the full inclusion of women.” 

ActionAid Ireland CEO, Karol Balfe, said women and girls in Gaza continue to be uniquely impacted in the aftermath of the war.

“Women have been working at the forefront of the humanitarian response despite facing grave danger to support their peers and ensure the needs of women and girls are not overlooked. Their leadership must not be erased in the recovery process.” 
“While the road ahead to rebuilding Gaza is long, one thing is clear: women, including the women-led organisations, must have a seat at the table. Only then will Gaza be able to build back in a way that takes their needs into account. We demand that women’s voices are heard and play a key part of shaping the future of Gaza.” 

She said globally commitments to ensure women’s full and meaningful participation in peace and security matters made over many years have not materialised. Political and military power and decision-making around conflicts continues to be overwhelmingly dominated by men, with most wars also started by men.

“Women made up only 9.6 per cent of negotiators in peace processes in 2023. 13.7 per cent of mediators and 26.6 per cent of signatories to peace agreements and ceasefire agreements were women. This is despite the fact that across the world women are instrumental in grassroots peacebuilding efforts. They are not passive victims of war, but are powerful peacemakers.”

On the overall humanitarian impact on women Ms Balfe added:

“The ongoing restrictions on access to essential services such as maternal healthcare and services for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence are a blatant violation of their rights. Despite an average of 600 trucks entering Gaza each day during the first six-week phase of the ceasefire, the level of humanitarian need remains staggering. The deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid, including the horrifying blockade imposed by the Israeli authorities on Sunday, is a direct attack on the survival and dignity of Palestinian civilians and must end immediately.”

Lack of basic aid and services for women:

Sahar, head of ActionAid’s partner in Gaza the Palestinian Development Women Studies Association (PDWSA), said:

“Women in Gaza are struggling with nearly everything. They lack access to basic services and aid. A tent is not a home. We need assistance and increased funding urgently. We need water, food, and medicine for women – these are urgent necessities. In the long term, we need to rebuild women’s homes, providing them with safety and security.“ 
“We also need sustained support for small businesses, so that women can support themselves and their families. The number of women providing for their families has risen significantly. Many women have been widowed or lost their husbands due to imprisonment or injuries that leave men unable to work. We must empower them, to help them support their families.”

Since day one of the war, PDWSA has been supporting women and girls by distributing essential items like food, hygiene kits and winter clothes, providing psychosocial, practical and legal support to women, including survivors of gender-based violence; and building key infrastructure such as private bathrooms and a displacement camp for women-headed households and their families.  

Lack of legal services:

Randa Al Zaqzouq, a lawyer with another ActionAid partner Wefaq Association, said Gaza’s judicial system had ground to a total halt during the war – and that women had been particularly impacted.  
 
She said:

“Judicial representation is an urgent need for women. A large percentage of women need to file cases. When I receive calls on my mobile the question most asked is “When will the courts start working?” Many women contact me and they need a divorce, but with full rights.” 
“There are no centres or courts. Most of the headquarters were bombed. There are cases filed and archived in the courts. All of this was lost. All of the identification papers and files were lost.  Women’s inability to access justice during this war…has led to an increase in rates of violence. This war has helped men evade giving women their rights, because of the absence of police and courts….many men have stopped granting rights to women, such as expenses or child support.” 

Lack of support for women’s mental health:

Hadeel, a case manager with ActionAid partner Awda Health and Community Association, says the war has had a huge impact on women’s well-being, safety and mental health in Gaza.

“The war has resulted in a sharp rise in gender-based violence (GBV), particularly psychological and sexual abuse, severely affecting women’s mental and psychological health. Women are experiencing heightened trauma, anxiety, stress, and significant losses. Many of them have become dependent on humanitarian support to survive as their basic needs remain unmet. The decision by the Israeli authorities to block all humanitarian supplies into Gaza on Sunday 2 March, following weeks of aid blockages, limitations and delays since the ceasefire agreement came into effect, will put the lives of people in Gaza at further risk.“ 

Awda is supporting survivors through mental health programmes, stress management, and emotional release sessions aimed at alleviating the psychological toll of the war.

“However, the mental health crisis is widespread, with women commonly facing extreme fear, depression, and anxiety, necessitating urgent support. Despite efforts to provide assistance, Hadeel highlights the severe shortage of treatment resources due to the war on Gaza, the siege, and the closure of crossings.”