UN Women Report Details Alarming Daily Death Toll of Women and Girls in Gaza Conflict
A shocking new report from UN Women, released on Friday, 17 April 2026, has revealed that an average of at least 47 women and girls were killed each day during the prolonged conflict in Gaza. The agency, which focuses on gender equality, cautioned that these fatalities have persisted even six months into a fragile and precarious ceasefire, highlighting an ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Staggering Statistics and Historical Context
The comprehensive report states that over 38,000 women and girls lost their lives in Gaza between October 2023 and December 2025. Sofia Calltorp, UN Women's head of humanitarian action, emphasized in a Geneva press briefing that this proportion of deaths among women and girls is significantly higher than those observed in previous conflicts in the region. "They were individuals with lives and with dreams," she poignantly added, underscoring the human cost behind the numbers.
UN Women expressed deep concern that the killing of women and girls has continued since the October ceasefire, though precise figures remain unavailable due to a critical lack of gender-aggregated data. This data gap complicates efforts to fully assess and address the ongoing violence and its specific impact on women.
Ceasefire Fragility and Continued Violence
The October ceasefire brought a formal end to two years of intense conflict, yet the situation remains volatile. Israeli forces retained control of a depopulated area comprising more than half of Gaza, with Hamas governing the remaining narrow coastal strip. Local medics report that over 750 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire, while militants have claimed the lives of four Israeli soldiers. Both Israel and Hamas have repeatedly exchanged accusations regarding breaches of the ceasefire agreement, with Israel maintaining its objective is to thwart attacks by Hamas and other militant factions.
Broader Humanitarian Impact and Displacement
In a separate announcement, the UN children's agency UNICEF revealed on Friday that children in Gaza continue to suffer fatalities and injuries at an alarming rate, with at least 214 deaths reported in the past six months alone. This compounds the tragedy outlined by UN Women.
The report also highlighted that approximately one million women and girls are currently displaced within Gaza, facing severe hardships. Ms. Calltorp noted that "extensive damage to infrastructure has made it almost impossible for women and girls in Gaza to access their basic needs like healthcare." Data from the World Health Organisation supports this, indicating that over 500,000 women are without access to crucial services, including antenatal and postnatal care, and management for sexually transmitted infections.
The combined findings paint a dire picture of sustained violence and suffering, particularly for vulnerable populations, long after the official cessation of major hostilities.
