In Gaza, women-headed households face ‘impossible choices’ to survive

In war-torn Gaza, a growing number of women-headed households face “impossible decisions” every day, amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes and still-scarce resources, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday. Key factsNearly one in four Gaza households is headed by a woman. 246 Palestinian women and girls killed since October 2025 ceasefire. Women-headed households more likely to lack shelter, food and cash. According to new data from UN Women, nearly one in four households in Gaza is reportedly headed by a woman, an estimated 86,290 families. “This is double the pre-October 2023 rate and follows the widespread killings of Palestinians,” said Sofia Calltorp, Chief of Humanitarian Action at the agency. The update comes 11 months after a ceasefire agreement was reached between Hamas fighters and Israel. It has not halted ongoing exchanges of fire and the killing of 246 Palestinian women and girls by Israeli air bombardment and military ground operations in Gaza. “This is equivalent to six women and girls killed every week between October 2025 and 28 July 2026,” Ms. Calltorp said. Restrictions, insecurity and bombardmentAcross the enclave today, access to food, drinking water, hygiene supplies and ...