Gaza Women Face Death, Loss, and Rising Abortions Three Years Into Conflict

Three years after the start of the war in Gaza, Palestinian and UN data reveal widespread repercussions for women and girls, including killings, injuries, and a surge in abortions and unsafe births. The collapse of the healthcare system has deprived pregnant women of medical care, forcing many to give birth at home or in displacement centers. Thousands of women have also become the sole breadwinners for their families due to changes in family structures.

According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics on July 18, 2026, 12,400 women, excluding girls, have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023. Additionally, 4,700 women and children are among 11,200 missing, with many presumed to be under rubble.

A UN Women report from April 2026, "The Cost of War on Women and Girls," estimated over 38,000 women and girls killed between October 2023 and December 2025, averaging about 47 daily. The report also stated that 11,000 women and girls sustained life-altering injuries during the same period. Survivors face daily risks from shelling, hunger, displacement, and restricted access to essential services. The report noted that women, children, and the elderly constituted over half of the more than 71,200 total reported deaths, with actual figures likely higher due to the collapse of health information systems.

Reproductive health has severely deteriorated. The International Planned Parenthood Federation reported a 300% increase in abortions in Gaza during the first nine months of the war. Doctors Without Borders documented 2,600 abortions in the first half of 2025, along with 220 pregnancy-related deaths and 1,460 premature births. Data from Gaza's Ministry of Health in 2025 showed 57.1% of registered pregnant women suffered from anemia.

Pregnant women have faced immense difficulties accessing care due to the healthcare system's collapse. UN Women reported around 130 births daily in Gaza by March 2025, with over a quarter requiring C-sections, straining the system. Many women resorted to giving birth in homes or displacement sites without emergency care. Even after a ceasefire, an average of 15 births per week occurred outside hospitals, often without skilled midwives. Malnutrition has exacerbated risks, leading to low birth weights, premature births, stillbirths, and maternal deaths. By July 2025, 40% of pregnant and lactating women in Gaza were malnourished, with nearly half a million women and girls facing famine risk.

Recent data from Gaza's Ministry of Health shows a significant increase in abortions, with nearly 3,958 cases recorded between January and June 2026. The abortion rate per 1,000 live births more than tripled from the latter half of 2025 to the first half of 2026. April 2026 saw the highest monthly abortion rate, and June 2026 recorded the highest number of cases.

Socially, the war has transformed family structures, with women increasingly becoming heads of households. UN Women reported the percentage of female-headed households in Gaza rose from 9% before the war to 14%, affecting 58,600 families. This shift imposes long-term economic and social burdens on women and girls, alongside caregiving responsibilities and protection needs stemming from displacement, poverty, and loss of family members.