NEW YORK: Two mothers are being killed in the Gaza Strip every hour since the Israeli war of genocide began on October 7, according to a UN Women report published yesterday.
“Since then, we have seen evidenced once more that women and children are the first victims of conflict and that our duty to seek peace is a duty to them,” UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous said.
Women and children account for roughly 70% of the victims of the war in Gaza, according to the report.
“These are people, not numbers, and we are failing them. That failure, and the generational trauma inflicted on the Palestinian people over these 100 days and counting, will haunt us all for generations to come,” Bahous said.
The UN Women also voiced concern over the “shocking accounts of unconscionable” sexual violence, and called for accountability, justice, and support for those affected.
According to the report, at least 3,000 women may have become widows and heads of households, and at least 10,000 children may now be fatherless.
“We continue to call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. No effort must be spared to ensure that women and girls in Gaza receive the humanitarian assistance they need, including safety and protection, immediately and unimpeded,” she added.
At least 24,762 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, mostly women and children, and 62,108 injured, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
The Israeli offensive has left 85% of Gaza’s population internally displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure was damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.
Source: Palestine news and Information Agency – WAFA