Buried Alive: The Dark Reality of Women and Girls in Gaza After Israeli Military Offensive

In the aftermath of the Israeli military offensive, human rights experts have condemned the mass graves in the Gaza Strip that contain bodies showing signs of torture, execution, and even being buried alive. The experts highlighted the disproportionate impact on civilian victims, particularly women and girls who have been affected by the conflict.

The discovery of over 390 bodies in Al Nasser and Al Shifa hospitals, including women and children with signs of torture and summary executions, has horrified human rights experts. They pointed out that women and minors are among the most vulnerable groups exposed to danger during the conflict. Almost half of the 34,000 Palestinians killed were minors, and a third were women. Additionally, 75 percent of the 78,000 injured were women, and over half of the 8,000 missing individuals were women and children.

The situation in Gaza remains dire with 1.7 million internally displaced people and 1.1 million facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Women and girls in Gaza are at risk of forced disappearances and other forms of violence attributed to Israeli forces. Human rights experts criticized Israel for not conducting an independent investigation into allegations of sexual assault and violence against women and girls.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women in Gaza are also suffering due to the destruction of crucial health facilities by Israeli forces. Conditions are so severe that there has been a 300 percent increase in spontaneous abortions, and 95 percent of pregnant and breastfeeding women are facing serious food poverty. Moreover, about 690,000 women and girls lack privacy and dignity in managing their menstrual cycles.

The destruction of homes and daily life in Gaza has disproportionately affected women