Gaza father marries off daughter for 2 sacks of flour:UN report says child marriages rose by 123%, rape survivors married accused

The worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza is putting women and girls at greater risk of violence, child marriage and forced marriage, according to a report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The report said a father reportedly married off his 14-year-old daughter in exchange for two sacks of flour. It also documented cases in which rape survivors were married to the people accused of assaulting them, reportedly to avoid social stigma and protect family honour. Reported cases of child and forced marriages have increased by 123%, according to the UNFPA report. The agency collected data from 10 organisations in Gaza and interviewed 230 women living in displacement camps in Gaza City. Weddings held at schools after reported rape cases A woman living in a displacement camp where a school is being used as a shelter told UNFPA that when a rape incident is reported at a school, a wedding and celebrations are held at the same location the following day. She said that in several cases, rape survivors were married to the people accused of the assault. The women interviewed said such incidents would have been difficult to imagine in Gaza before the war. Disabled girls and women face greater risk Disabled women and girls in Gaza face a higher risk of violence. In some cases, perpetrators were aware of their vulnerabilities. A woman from Gaza City said a deaf and mute girl went missing for seven hours. When she returned crying, her family thought she was frightened. Around two months later, they discovered that she was pregnant and had been raped. The perpetrator could not be identified. The report also mentions a 20-year-old woman who had difficulty understanding conversations. Several young men sexually exploited her. She said she could not properly understand what was happening to her. Girls married after losing parents The report also highlighted the risks faced by girls who have lost their parents during the war. A woman in Gaza City said two girls from her family, aged 14 and 15, lost their parents in the conflict. Their uncles subsequently arranged their marriages. “Their uncles did not want to take responsibility for them or bear their expenses. The girls were married off when they did not even understand what marriage or life was,” the woman said. In its report, the UNFPA defines marriage involving girls aged 12 to 17 as child marriage. Child marriage was a problem in Gaza even before the war, but reported cases had been declining. In its report, the UNFPA defines marriage involving girls aged 12 to 17 as child marriage. Child marriage was a problem in Gaza even before the war, but reported cases had been declining. Rape allegation against a family member The report also documented a case of alleged rape within a family. A widow was allegedly raped by her husband’s brother while she was sleeping. She later became pregnant. After the family found out, the accused’s family tried to arrange a marriage between the two. The case was taken to a judge, who refused to allow the marriage. At the time, the woman was observing the religious waiting period following her husband’s death. The judge treated the case as adultery. Rape cases reported within families The report also documented a case of alleged rape within a family. A woman said her husband’s brother raped her while she was sleeping after her husband’s death. She later became pregnant. After the family found out, the accused’s family tried to arrange their marriage. The case reached a judge, but the marriage did not take place. At the time, the woman was observing the religious waiting period following her husband’s death. According to the woman, the judge treated the case as adultery. Domestic violence also increased during the war The threat to women in Gaza is not limited to outside the home. Women told the report that violence within families had also increased since the war. Cases of beatings, verbal abuse and other forms of violence by husbands, fathers, brothers and in-laws were reported. Women linked the rise to destroyed homes, unemployment, poverty, repeated displacement and mental stress. A woman from Gaza City said her husband had never been angry with her before the war. But after their home was destroyed and they lost everything, he became irritable and began taking his anger out on his wife and children. Another woman said physical violence was the most common form of violence against women. She said men were taking out their anger on their wives and many women had no choice but to endure it. War weakens systems protecting women and children UNFPA attributed the rise in child and forced marriages to the deteriorating conditions in Gaza. Large-scale displacement and the destruction of essential facilities, including hospitals and schools, have weakened systems that protect women and children. Nestor Ovomuhangi, UNFPA representative in Palestine, said prolonged war and repeated displacement had severely disrupted the social order. Husband beat wife for sex Families in displacement camps have almost no privacy. One woman said her husband demanded sex. When she refused to do so in front of their children, he beat her, broke her arm and injured her eye. Twelve people, including their children, were living in the same tent. Later, the husband also forced her to have sex in a school bathroom. According to the report, overcrowding and lack of privacy have increased the risk of such violence. However, marital rape is not a new problem that began after the war. Husbands control food aid Hunger and shortages of essential supplies have made life harder for women. Some women told the report that their husbands also control humanitarian aid received by the family. A woman from Gaza City said she had to delete aid-related messages from her phone. She feared that if her husband found out, he would take away the assistance meant for her and their children. Another woman said some husbands spend money on drugs or cigarettes instead of buying food for the family. Women who object are subjected to violence. Woman returned to abusive husband The report also described a woman whose husband beat, abused and sexually assaulted her. When she secretly sought help by phone, her husband found out. He took her to a friend’s house, tied her up and dragged her by her hair. She suffered injuries and her hand was no longer functioning properly. Despite this, she returned to her husband. When asked why, she said: “Where can I go? I cannot stay away from my children.” According to the report, displacement has weakened support from families and relatives, while safe shelters and other support services for women remain limited. As a result, many women facing violence have no safe way to leave their homes. Violence within families The report also documented violence by other family members. One woman said overcrowding in tents led brothers to beat and abuse their sisters over minor issues. Some women also reported sons beating elderly mothers. One woman said a man in a nearby tent beat his elderly mother because she wet the bed and adult diapers were too expensive. Sexual violence cases rose by 61% 1. According to the UNFPA report, sexual violence accounted for 2.7% of reported gender-based violence cases between April and June 2026, compared with 2.1% between January and March. 2. The number of reported sexual violence cases rose by 61% during this period. Women aged 18 to 59 made up the largest group of survivors. 3. Reported gender-based violence against women and girls increased by 27% between April-June and January-March 2026. 4. The largest category was denial of essential resources and opportunities at 32%, followed by emotional violence at 30.9% and physical assault at 30.5%.