Women in the Middle East are preparing for International Women's Day, in the shadow of wars deepened by the nation-state mentality. The conflicts have brought with them a major humanitarian crisis and made daily life even more difficult for women. The situation is beyond dire for Palestinian women, who have experienced the most intense warfare since 2023 and are facing the most severe struggle within the humanitarian crisis.  

  

According to data from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 11,000 women have been killed since the attacks on the Gaza Strip began on 8 October 2023. Those who survived are fighting for their lives against the bombs raining down on them, while also experiencing the difficulties of being a woman in the harsh physical conditions they find themselves in. 

 

Palestinian women, who have been living in makeshift tents through all four seasons because their cities and homes have been destroyed, live in insecurity. The Palestinian people have endured two major famines, and they are now facing the danger of going through the same process again following Israel's attacks on Iran.

 

Speaking to us on Haneen Ashour, a Palestinian woman fighting for survival in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Yunis, pointed out the multidimensional nature of the attacks, saying, "War is not just about bombardment and rockets." 

 

INTERNATIONAL LAW DISREGARDED

 

Haneen Ashour stated that more than half of the casualties in Gaza were women and children. "The pain we experienced continued to grow every day and every moment. We lost our homes, feared for our children, and woke up every morning unsure whether we would survive the day," she said and added that women lost their loved ones, especially their children, during this period, and that some bereaved families could not even find the bodies of their dead. 

 

Drawing attention to Israel's targeting of civilians in hospitals, mosques, churches, and wherever they may be, Haneen Ashour said: "Yet all of these are clear and grave violations of international law. However, the Israeli occupation has completely disregarded international law."

 

EVEN THE SOUND OF A BALLOON IS SCARY 

 

Emphasising that she is just one of the women displaced since the first day of the war, Haneen Ashour said: "As women and girls, our biggest struggle was to find security, treatment, health services, food and alternatives to bottled gas. I collected wood, pieces of timber and plastic bags to cook with. We couldn't find water to bathe. For a period, I was placed in a shelter school called 'Hirbet el-Ades' in the city of Rafah, in southern Gaza. I couldn't wash for a whole month. This was particularly difficult for women who were menstruating or had recently given birth. We were constantly afraid. Rockets were falling on civilians from all directions, accompanied by terrifying sounds. I still suffer from psychological and nervous trauma. Even the sound of a balloon can frighten me. Is there anyone who can imagine this pain?" 

 

VIOLATION OF WOMEN'S HONOUR 

 

Haneen Ashour stated that they were forced to flee under bombardment and gunfire, and that while searching for safe places, they had to pass through Israeli army checkpoints and military barracks. She stated that women were searched along with men at these points: "All of this is a violation of our rights and our dignity as women." 

 

NO PRIVACY, NO SAFETY

 

Emphasising that mothers suffered greatly in tents and refugee camps that were unsuitable for human life, Haneen Ashour said: "Every day we searched for wood to use instead of fuel, and even preparing a simple meal was a huge struggle. There were exorbitant price increases for food and electronic goods because their entry into Gaza was restricted. Electricity and water cuts are still ongoing and are under Israeli control. Women have lost all privacy in the tents. More than seven people are living under a 3 by 4 square metre piece of cloth. This space served as both a kitchen and a toilet. This cramped space eliminated women's private lives. Moreover, the tents are set up side by side, and even the slightest movement can be heard very easily." 

 

THIRD FAMINE THREAT  

  

Haneen Ashour stated that the Palestinian people are the ones who feel even the slightest regional military escalation most deeply, adding that this situation further exacerbates the already fragile situation of Gazans. 

 

"Security restrictions have been tightened, border crossings have been closed since the beginning of regional tensions (Israeli and US attacks on Iran), and basic food prices have risen due to increased demand. There are serious concerns that a third famine could occur, and that children, the elderly and the sick could lose their lives," she said. 

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF GLOBAL WOMEN'S SOLIDARITY 

 

Expressing concern that the international community's sensitivity to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is waning, Haneen Ashour said: "The rise of militarism, the exclusion of women from peace processes, and the increased vulnerability of refugee women are among my concerns." 

 

Emphasising the vital importance of global women's solidarity, she councluded: "Making human rights violations visible, creating pressure for women's participation in peace processes, and protecting acquired rights. My message to women around the world is this: we are not just victims, we are the cornerstone of societies. Societies are built and rise up through the economic, political and social empowerment of women. As women living in the midst of this catastrophe in Gaza, our message is: make our voices heard. Defend Palestinian women for justice and peace, and fight for this cause."

 

 MA / Ceylan Sahinli