At least 47 women and girls killed each day by the Israeli army in Gaza over two years, according to the UN.

Between October 2023 and December 2025, more than 38,000 women and girls have been killed in Gaza, victims of Israeli air bombings and ground military operations. Among them, over 22,000 women and 16,000 girls, averaging at least 47 women and girls killed each day, announced UN Women spokesperson Sofia Calltorp on Friday, April 17 in Geneva. As of December 27, the Gaza Ministry of Health, under the authority of Hamas, had recorded 71,266 deaths since the start of the conflict.

Women and girls make up a much higher proportion of casualties than in previous conflicts in Gaza, stated Sofia Calltorp, highlighting that they remain always immersed in horrific suffering despite the ceasefire declared in October 2025. She mentioned that nearly 11,000 women and girls [Fact Check: text truncated here, more content present] have suffered such serious injuries that they only survive with permanent disabilities. Additionally, over 730 people have reportedly been killed in the past six months. We know that women and girls are among the victims, but the data broken down by gender and age is sorely lacking, explained Sofia Calltrop.

Nearly 790,000 women facing food insecurity

Forced or restricted displacements, challenges in accessing water, food, healthcare, and humanitarian aid: women and girls must be at the heart of response efforts urged Sofia Calltorp. Over a million women and girls have been repeatedly displaced during the conflict, with nearly 790,000 facing critical or even catastrophic food insecurity according to UN Women.

According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, a total of 72,345 people have been killed in the territory since the bloody attacks on October 7, 2023 led by Hamas in Israel, sparking a high-intensity war in the enclave. In December 2023, South Africa initiated proceedings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. In January 2024, in a landmark decision without ruling on the merits, the ICJ called on Israel to prevent any acts of genocide, warning of a real and imminent risk of irreparable prejudice to the Palestinians.