An estimated 28,000 women and girls have been killed in Gaza since the outbreak of the war in October 2023, according to a new analysis released by UN Women. The figure, based on both officially reported deaths and excess deaths due to the collapse of health and reporting infrastructure, reveals the staggering impact of the ongoing conflict on the civilian population—particularly on women and girls.
UN Women stated that, on average, one woman or girl has been killed every hour since the hostilities began. Many of the victims were mothers, leaving behind children and families now facing severe trauma, instability, and uncertain futures. The estimate draws on a February 2025 report from The Lancet, which indicated that deaths in Gaza may have been undercounted by as much as 41 percent due to widespread disruption in health services and administrative systems.
Since the collapse of the most recent ceasefire in March 2025, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has worsened considerably. The region has now endured nearly nine consecutive weeks of a near-total blockade on humanitarian aid, severely limiting access to food, clean water, medicine, and fuel. UN Women reports that the entire population of Gaza—over 2 million people—is now rapidly running out of basic necessities, with more than 1 million women and girls facing “catastrophic levels of hunger.”
“Women and girls are trapped in a war zone with no safe routes, rising maternal mortality, no functioning health infrastructure, and a complete breakdown of protection systems,” the agency said in its statement. “They are bearing the brunt of displacement, food insecurity, and psychological trauma.”
While UN Women and its partners on the ground—especially women-led civil society organizations—continue efforts to provide services, distribute aid, and support vulnerable populations, they warn that the resources currently available are inadequate to meet the overwhelming demand.
Access restrictions have prevented humanitarian actors from operating at the necessary scale, with limited fuel and ongoing insecurity hindering aid convoys and the reopening of essential health facilities. The agency emphasized that without an immediate increase in humanitarian access and funding, the death toll is likely to rise significantly.
UN Women has joined calls by the United Nations Secretary-General for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and individuals held arbitrarily, and the urgent restoration of unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.
“The human cost of this war is unacceptable,” the statement read. “Every hour that passes without a ceasefire puts more lives—especially the lives of women and girls—at risk.”
The conflict, which began in October 2023, has seen large-scale displacement, damage to infrastructure, and a breakdown of essential services. With healthcare systems largely inoperable and international relief efforts constrained, the prospect of famine and further mass casualties looms over Gaza’s civilian population.
International organizations, including UN Women, continue to urge all parties involved to prioritize civilian protection, uphold international humanitarian law, and ensure sustained access to life-saving aid.
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