Women Shoulder Greater Responsibility for Gaza Families as Widowhood Rises

(MENAFN) Women are increasingly becoming the primary decision-makers and providers for families in Gaza, with nearly one in four households now led by women, almost twice the proportion recorded before the war began in October 2023.

The latest estimate from UN Women puts the number of female-headed households in Gaza at approximately 86,290, compared with about one in nine before the conflict. The figures are based on information gathered toward the end of 2025.

Sofia Calltorp, director of the UN Women Geneva Office and chief of humanitarian action, said developments since the data was collected suggest the actual share of women-led households is likely higher in 2026.

"Definitely, we can expect that the actual proportion of women-headed households has risen further in 2026," Calltorp said.

She explained that despite the ceasefire reached in October 2025, more than 1,330 people have reportedly been killed in Gaza during the following 11 months. Thousands of people are still missing, while many others have suffered permanent disabilities as a result of injuries sustained during bombardment.

The report also warns that official figures may underestimate the number of women who have effectively become heads of their families. Some households continue to be recorded as being headed by men even though women have assumed primary responsibility because their husbands are missing, detained, separated, seriously wounded, disabled or otherwise unable to perform their previous roles.

Calltorp said the increase cannot be attributed to a single cause. She pointed to fatalities resulting from Israeli airstrikes and ground operations, repeated displacement, missing family members and injuries that have left people with permanent disabilities.

"This has left behind tens of thousands of widows who are now heading households," she said.

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