Gaza’s Women: Enduring the Scars of Genocide and International Silence on International Women’s Day

As the world commemorates International Women’s Day on March 8, the spotlight turns to the women of Gaza, not to celebrate their achievements but to bear witness to their unimaginable suffering. For over a year and a half, these women have endured a genocidal war that has left deep, indelible scars on their lives. The ceasefire declared a month and a half ago has done little to alleviate their pain, as the slow, relentless effects of the war continue to ravage their bodies, minds, and souls.

The Israeli war machine has systematically targeted women, killing over 12,316 of them. Some were burned to death, while others were shattered into pieces, their identities erased in the most brutal manner. Horrific scenes of women shot by Israeli snipers in cold blood, or killed while clutching their children in a final attempt to protect them, have become emblematic of this tragedy.

For those who survived, the scars run deep. Hundreds of women have lost limbs, suffered severe burns, and endured life-altering injuries. The healthcare system, already crippled by the Israeli siege, has left them without access to proper treatment. Women like Nour al-Dalou, an 18-year-old who lost her legs and family in an Israeli missile strike, are left to grapple with an uncertain future. “I can no longer walk, move, or live my life as I once did,” she told the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR). “My future has become uncertain, without a home, without education, and without treatment.”

The psychological toll is equally devastating. Women like Samah ‘Ashour, a lawyer at PCHR, have endured the loss of loved ones in rapid succession. “I never imagined that loss could reach this extent,” she said. “I lost my brother, my colleague, and then my second brother. The wounds have not yet healed, and I can no longer comprehend these successive losses.”

The war has also targeted the very essence of motherhood. Pregnant women like Tahreer al-‘Aryian, who was nine months pregnant when an Israeli military dog attacked her, have lost their unborn children due to the violence and lack of medical care. “The IOF mercilessly stole that joy from me,” she said, referring to the Israeli Occupation Forces.

Even after the ceasefire, the suffering continues. Thousands of women remain displaced, living in tents amid unsanitary conditions, with no access to clean water, food, or shelter. The psychological trauma of losing loved ones, homes, and livelihoods has left them in a state of perpetual grief and exhaustion. Amira al-‘Abed, a 29-year-old mother, described her life in a tent surrounded by sewage. “We have no source of income, and my clothes don’t protect me from this biting cold,” she said. “I feel like we are trapped in an endless cycle of suffering.”

As negotiations for a lasting ceasefire stall, fears of a renewed Israeli offensive loom large. The so-called “Hell Plan,” which includes relocating residents and cutting off electricity, threatens to plunge Gaza back into chaos. Women, already weakened by starvation and malnutrition, face the grim prospect of further violence and deprivation.

On International Women’s Day, PCHR calls on the international community to take decisive action. They urge an immediate and lasting ceasefire, uninterrupted humanitarian aid, and the opening of Gaza’s crossings to allow injured women to receive treatment abroad. They also call for reconstruction efforts, psychological support, and economic empowerment programs to help women rebuild their lives.

The genocide in Gaza has not ended; it continues to erase future generations and leave scars that will never heal. The women of Gaza, who have borne the brunt of this war, deserve justice, dignity, and a chance to reclaim their lives.