On International Women’s Day, it is crucial for European feminists to address the severe challenges faced by women and girls in Gaza.
The ongoing offensive by Israel in Gaza, in response to the Hamas terror attack on October 7, has resulted in a devastating toll. The number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces has exceeded 30,000.
Approximately 1,200 Israelis were killed in the Hamas raid into southern Israel, with 100 still held hostage.
With reports of Israel planning to invade Rafah in southern Gaza at the beginning of Ramadan, UN Women has warned that the conflict in Gaza is disproportionately affecting women.
The number of women killed by Israeli forces has risen to 9,000, and this number will continue to increase without an immediate ceasefire.
The situation is dire, with Palestinian mothers facing daily fatalities, scarcity of food, challenging childbirth conditions, and limited access to sanitary products.
According to Reem Alsalem, the UN’s special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Palestinian women are enduring war crimes, crimes against humanity, and a genocide.
Allegations of rape, sexualized torture against hostages held by Hamas, and abuse of Palestinian detainees, including women, in Israeli detention centers have also surfaced.
These atrocities violate numerous UN conventions and declarations, as well as the EU’s commitment to ending gender-based discrimination and violence against women and girls.
While some in Europe are actively advocating for change, there are notable voices of silence.
European feminists have drawn attention to cases like that of Mahsa Amini in Iran and the plight of women in Afghanistan, but the crisis in Gaza has largely been overlooked.
Calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, an EU arms embargo against Israel, and humanitarian aid deliveries to the region have been led by women’s organizations, EU staff members, and European policymakers.
Despite some efforts, the silence on the situation in Gaza from many European feminists is concerning.
International Women’s Day serves as a reminder for European feminists to raise their voices and advocate for the rights and protection of women in Gaza.
