On International Women's Day,
observed annually on March 8 in recognition of the vital role women play in
building societies and advancing their progress, The Palestinian Association
for Human Rights (Witness) affirms that this year’s commemoration comes amid
exceptional circumstances faced by Palestinian women, who continue to endure
grave violations of their fundamental rights as a result of the ongoing Israeli
occupation and the continuing war against the Palestinian people. At a time
when the world celebrates women’s achievements and their struggle for equality
and human dignity, Palestinian women are living through an extremely harsh
humanitarian reality characterized by violence, forced displacement, poverty,
and insecurity.
Palestinian women have paid a heavy
price as a result of the ongoing war and military aggression, particularly in
the Gaza Strip, where approximately 12,400 Palestinian women have been killed
since the beginning of the war on the Gaza Strip. Women and children constitute
nearly 70% of the total civilian casualties. Moreover, more than 1.9 million
Palestinians have been internally displaced within the Gaza Strip, with women
representing a significant proportion of the displaced population. Thousands of
women are suffering from the loss of family members and the collapse of health
and social services, while pregnant and breastfeeding women face increasing
health risks due to the destruction of the healthcare system, shortages of food
and water, and the absence of essential medical care.
The suffering of Palestinian women is
not limited to the direct consequences of war but also extends to policies
imposed by the occupation, including arbitrary detention and restrictions on
freedom of movement and employment. In addition, women detained in Israeli
prisons face various forms of violations, including ill-treatment, humiliation,
and deprivation of adequate healthcare. Such practices constitute a clear
violation of the rules of international humanitarian law, particularly the
Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, which provides special protection for women
during armed conflicts.
Palestinian women also bear
increasing social and economic burdens due to the loss of family breadwinners
and the destruction of homes and infrastructure. As a result, thousands of
women have become the primary providers for their families under extremely
difficult humanitarian conditions, amid rising poverty and unemployment rates
and the widespread deterioration of basic living conditions.
The situation of Palestinian refugee
women, which constitutes an integral part of the broader suffering of the
Palestinian people, cannot be overlooked. More than 5.9 million Palestinian
refugees are registered with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and women represent nearly 50% of
the refugee population. Palestinian refugee women in camps—particularly in
Lebanon—face compounded challenges, including poverty, unemployment,
restrictions on the right to work, fragile socio-economic conditions, and the
absence of adequate protection. These conditions further expose them to various
forms of discrimination and deprivation of their fundamental rights.
These violations constitute clear
breaches of several international legal instruments, including the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as the rules of
international humanitarian law, which obligate the occupying power to protect
the civilian population in occupied territories.
While The Palestinian Association for
Human Rights (Witness) commends the resilience of Palestinian women and their
central role in safeguarding the social fabric of Palestinian society, it
stresses that the protection of women’s rights in Palestine is not merely a
humanitarian concern but a binding international legal obligation incumbent
upon the international community to ensure respect for international law and to
hold perpetrators of serious violations accountable.
Accordingly, the organization calls upon the international
community to:
- Take urgent measures to halt violations against
Palestinian women.
- Ensure legal accountability for crimes committed against
civilians.
- Provide international protection for women and girls in
the occupied Palestinian territories.
- Support and empower Palestinian women economically and
socially, and ensure their meaningful participation in decision-making
processes and justice pathways.
The
Palestinian Association for Human Rights (Witness)
8 March 2026