Israel’s war in Gaza drives rise in early marriagerise in early marriage
Israel’s military campaign and mass displacement in Gaza have fueled a rise in early marriage, according to an Associated Press report published on May 29, 2026.
Families in the Gaza Strip say economic pressure, insecurity, and disrupted schooling are pushing some mothers to marry off daughters at younger ages, making recovery for children and families harder.
Families in Gaza
Some parents describe early marriage as a response to fear, poverty, and the loss of normal protections during war. They say they are trying to secure daughters’ future in conditions where schooling, work, and safety have all become uncertain.
Researchers and aid observers
Experts say displacement and conflict often increase child marriage because households face sharper financial strain and fewer social services. They warn that girls who marry early face higher risks of abuse, interrupted education, and divorce.
Israeli perspective
Israel says its military campaign targets armed groups in Gaza and is tied to its security aims after the October 2023 attacks. Israeli officials argue the conflict is driven by the war itself and the conduct of Hamas, not by a policy aimed at family life.
- Gaza has one of the world’s youngest populations.
- Child marriage usually rises in crises because families lose income and social support.
- Girls who leave school early are less likely to return after conflict ends.
Israel-Lebanon War
Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a 60-day ceasefire that mandates Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon while the Lebanese army deploys across all border crossings and the south.
22 June, 08:25 AM
Israeli strikes leave Tyre reeling despite ceasefire hopes21 June, 12:00 AM
Hezbollah launches rocket barrage and drone attack on Israeli post20 June, 02:04 PM
Iran closes Strait of Hormuz again after Israel attacks Lebanon
