April 17, 2026
UN reports over 38,000 women and girls killedover 38,000 women and girls killed in Gaza by Israeli attacks since October 2023
The United Nations states that Israeli attacks in Gaza have killed more than 38,000 women and girls since October 2023. Palestinian health authorities report a total death toll exceeding 72,000 by mid-April 2026, despite a ceasefire with Hamas in October 2025. Sporadic attacks have continued, adding hundreds more casualties post-ceasefire. This staggering toll underscores the prolonged devastation in Gaza, where women and girls have borne a disproportionate burden amid collapsed healthcare and ongoing violence. The figures highlight persistent humanitarian challenges even after the formal end of major hostilities, affecting global discussions on accountability and aid.
UN and Palestinian Authorities
Israeli attacks have killed over 38,000 women and girls in Gaza since October 2023, with the total death toll surpassing 72,000 by mid-April 2026. Despite the October 2025 ceasefire with Hamas, sporadic strikes continue, causing additional hundreds of deaths. These numbers reflect systematic harm to civilians, particularly women facing compounded risks from displacement and healthcare collapse.
Amnesty International
Israel's actions in Gaza amount to genocide, inflicting deliberate harms on women and girls through mass displacement, healthcare destruction, and aid restrictions. Over 72,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, including post-ceasefire fatalities. This erosion of rights to health and safety targets women specifically as part of calculated policies.
- The Gaza Strip's 365 square kilometers house over 2 million people, making it one of the world's densest areas.
- Reem Alsalem directed UNRWA protection programs across the Middle East before her UN role.
- The Gaza blockade by Israel and Egypt since 2007 limits most imports and exports.
Israel-Hezbollah War in Lebanon
Israel has intensified airstrikes across southern Lebanon despite an ongoing ceasefire, killing dozens in a single day as of May 9 and targeting over 85 Hezbollah sites including weapons facilities and the commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force.
