Over 38,000 women and girls lost their lives during the Gaza war by the end of 2025, according to new estimates released Friday by the United Nations, accounting for more than half of the 71,000 deaths reported by the territory’s health ministry.
Presenting the figures at a briefing in Geneva, UN Women spokesperson Sofia Calltorp detailed the devastating toll the conflict has taken on females in Gaza.
“Between October 2023 and December 2025, more than 38,000 women and girls were killed in Gaza, the result of Israeli air bombardment and land military operations,” she said.
The breakdown shows over 22,000 women and 16,000 girls among the victims, translating to an average of at least 47 deaths per day.
“This includes over 22,000 women and 16,000 girls, amounting to an average of at least 47 women and girls killed every day.”
Beyond fatalities, thousands are now living with severe injuries.
“On top of a staggering death toll, nearly 11,000 women and girls in Gaza have sustained injuries so devastating that they survive only with lifelong disabilities,” Calltorp added.
She noted that the conflict has significantly altered the structure of many Palestinian families.
With large numbers of men killed, many households are now led by women struggling to provide for their families amid harsh conditions and limited support.
Displacement and hunger have also worsened, with nearly one million women and girls forced from their homes multiple times. In addition, about 790,000 are facing extreme levels of food insecurity.
Calltorp further warned that the broader Middle East conflict, triggered by the US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28, has compounded the humanitarian crisis in Gaza by tightening border restrictions and limiting access to critical aid.
“As border crossing closures and humanitarian access constraints further reduce access to life-saving support,” she said.
