New York, Sept. 8 (Petra) -- UN Women reported on Tuesday that nearly a quarter of households in Gaza are currently headed by women, including widows and those whose husbands have been detained, severely injured, forcibly disappeared, or remain missing.

In a report highlighting the continuous suffering under "unbearable living conditions" across the enclave, the United Nations agency estimated that approximately 29,086 households are currently headed by women double the figure recorded before October 2023.

The agency stated that female-headed households in Gaza face significantly greater hardships than those headed by men, noting that they are far more likely to lack adequate shelter, food, and financial resources.

UN Women reported that the deaths of Palestinians in Gaza from Israeli airstrikes and ground operations continue, noting that "246 women and girls were killed between October 2025 and July 28, 2026, averaging six women and girls killed per week." The agency added that the vast majority of Gaza's population of approximately 2.1 million remain displaced and restricted to less than 40 percent of the strip's total area, as Israeli occupation authorities continue to restrict access to areas beyond the designated "Yellow" and "Orange" lines.

//Petra// AF