UN Women: 246 women killed in Gaza since ceasefire declaration

Geneva, August 9 (KUNA) – UN Women warned today, Tuesday, that the killing of Palestinians in Gaza continues despite the announcement of a ceasefire, confirming that 246 women and girls were killed between October 2025 and July 2026. Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, UN Women’s Executive Director, Sima Bahous, revealed that the organization had released a new report stating that the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians due to Israeli air raids and ground operations have left women, who head households, to shoulder decisive responsibilities and make critical decisions alone, including securing food and shelter, accessing humanitarian aid, managing scarce resources, and caring for family members. She added that female-headed households face more difficult conditions than male-headed ones, with 68 percent lacking adequate shelter compared to 55 percent of male-headed households. Furthermore, 74 percent of homes in female-headed households were damaged or destroyed, compared to 67 percent in male-headed households. In this context, Bahous called for the full implementation of the ceasefire in Gaza, adherence to international law, accountability for violations, and the provision of protection for women and girls. (End) A.M.Kh. / M.Kh.