Women in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war refers to the experience of Israeli and Palestinian women as victims of violence, as combatants, as partners in leadership, and as participants in informational campaigns.

Violence against women in Gaza Strip =

As of mid-November, two-thirds of the 11,000 Palestinian casualties reported killed by the Gaza Health Ministry since the onset of the war, were women and children.[1] According to a joint statement by UNICEF, the WHO, UNFPA, and the UNRWA, women in Gaza, along with children and newborns, have borne a disproportionate amount of suffering during the war, saying that "the bombardments, damaged or non-functioning health facilities, massive levels of displacement, collapsing water and electricity supplies as well as restricted access to food and medicines, are severely disrupting maternal, newborn, and child health services".[2][3] The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women said that "Since 7 October, the assault on Palestinian women’s dignity and rights has taken on new and terrifying dimensions, as thousands have become victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity and an unfolding genocide".[4]

Violence against women in Israel

Immediately after the surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, testimonies emerged and videos reached the army containing testimonies that, in addition to the murders, Hamas employed methods of severe torture that included violence against women and sexual violence, including rape.[5][6][7][8][9]

Prof. Ruth Halperin-Kaddari argues that the targeted attack against women and children, which included torture and rape, was a central goal aimed at spreading fear and terror, and is part of the use of violence against women as a weapon in war.[6][8]

The reports of rape and sexual violence are based on testimonies from survivors of the massacre at the music festival near Re'im, and from other residents of Gaza envelope communities. These incidents were also reported on by rescuers. Forensic evidence is consistent with torture and rape, and videos were filmed by Hamas militants themselves, some of them uploaded to social networks and Telegram by Hamas activists.[8][10][11]

After October 7 events, Israeli women and Israeli women organizations attempted raising awareness to the sexual violence and the gender based violence used by Hamas during their attack on Israel.[12]

More than 100 Israeli women have been taken hostage and held in Gaza. There were a few attempts, lead by Israeli women, to raise awareness for the hostage crisis, and to promote the hostages release.[13][14]

Sexual and gender based violence in 7 October attack on Israel

During the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israeli communities, reports emerged of Hamas militants raping, assaulting, and mutilating Israeli women and girls.[15][16][17][18] Following the attack forensic evidence collection by Israeli authorities confirmed sexual violence.[19][20][21][22] Hamas was accused of commiting war crimes and crimes against humanity through the usage of gender based violence as a weapon of war.[23][24]

Responses

The response to these events varied internationally, US president Joe Biden condemned the violence against women in a speech on 10 October 2023.[25] Criticism by Israeli human rights and women's rights group was directed at the United Nations and UN women for failing to address the sexual and gender based violence in the weeks that followed.[26][27][28] Hamas denied the use of sexual violence.[29] The UN secretary general in 28 November 2023 and UN women in 2 December 2023 condemned the gender based violence against Israeli women.[30][31][32]

Other impacts of the conflict

Gaza Strip

The United Nations estimates that there are about 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza, with more than 160 women giving birth each day.[33] Of the 1.1 million Gazans who were forced to flee northern Gaza following an Israeli evacuation order, 19,000 were estimated to be pregnant women, with some suffering miscarriages due to stress and shock.[34] Many women in shelters endure inadequate access to food and clean water, and are afraid of giving birth without the assistance of a doctor or midwife.[35] With over two-thirds of the territory's hospitals and primary care clinics no longer functioning, and Gaza's treated water production at 5% of normal levels, pregnant women in Gaza face lack of access to medical care, nutrition, and giving birth with no pain killers.[36][37] Human Rights Watch, citing the lack of prenatal care and access to functioning medical facilities, warned the conflict would lead to increases in both maternal and infant mortalities.[38] Miscarriages in Khan Younis, in the southern portion of the strip were civilians were ordered to evacuate to, were reported to have increased by 20 percent.[39]

An analysis by the UNRWA found that the lack of food security put lactating and pregnant women at increased risk of lower immune function which would lead to higher rates of nutrition-related illnesses such as anaemia, preeclampsia, and haemorrhage along with other maternal malnutrition illnesses, which in turn would lead to higher rates of maternal and infant mortality.[40]

Due to the lack of clean water and access to menstrual hygiene products, many women in Gaza were reported to be taking norethisterone in order to delay their periods.[41] Human Rights Watch reported that, given the lack clean water supplies to manage their menstrual hygiene, women face increased risks of hepatitis B and thrush.[38]

Areas of armed conflict have increased risks to women and girls for gender-based violence, including sexual assault; UN reporting on cases of gender-based violence has been disrupted due to the displacement of UN workers. Overcrowded facilities being used as shelters, with limited bathrooms, increase those risks.[40] The UNRWA has said that, as of 15 November 2023, that they had not seen an increase in such violence, but a spokesperson cautioned "Both sexual harassment and domestic violence tend to increase in prolonged periods of displacement."[42] Women and men sheltering at UN facilities in the south of Gaza sleep in different sections to try to alleviate some of these risks.[42] The lack of access to medical care also extends to the clinical treatment of rape.[40]

Israel

Many women in Israel have been affected by the slowdown in the economy during the war. Mothers struggle to return to work as child care frameworks have been suspended or operated in a partial emergency format. Many women had to move from their homes due to the evacuation of settlements.[43] Independent women or business owners experienced even more severe economic damage due to the inability to operate their business during the war. It was also found that many women were put on unpaid leave and the economic consequences of the war on the labor market affected women more than men.[44][45]

Women in the IDF

Since the beginning of the 21st century, women's involvement in combat roles in the IDF has increased significantly, to the point that most combat roles are open to women, including flight, naval officers, armored corps, field intelligence, border police, special forces and more.[46] Women's service in the military and the IDF in particular is a controversial issue. In most of the world's armies, there is no formal mandatory conscription, certainly not for women, as exists in Israel, where there is a mandatory conscription law.[47]

To mark the battlefield activities of Israeli women throughout the war, a cover version to the song "Don't worry about me" was recorded, with a video clip showing female combatants in action and their achievements, and lines such as "Fighting like lionesses do" were adjusted to reflect women's accomplishments.[48] Additionally the Army Radio created a new station ID saying: "The home of the female soldiers, Army Radio".[49]

Field observers

In the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, 14 field observers from Battalion 414 at Nahal Oz base were killed, an unprecedented number of female field soldiers killed in battle.[50] An unknown number of field observers are missing and some of them have been taken hostage. Additional field observers were locked in the war room and continued to work.[51] From testimony after the event, it appears that in the months preceding the surprise attack, the field observers warned of Hamas' preparations for an attack, intelligence gathering and unusual training.[52][53][54][55][56] According to the field observers, throughout this period, the senior command refused to listen to the warnings. "This is an apparatus made up entirely of young women and commanders," says one of them. "There is no doubt that if men were sitting at these screens, things would look different."[57]

In November 2023, a month after the battles, a new field observers war room for the Nahal Oz sector was inaugurated at Camp Re'im.[58][59]

Caracal Battalion

Women in the Caracal Battalion tank unit joined the fighting against dozens of Hamas militants on Highway 232 in the Gaza envelope. Later the crew identified four terrorists in Moshav Yated and subdued them. The crew continued driving the tank towards Holit, broke through the gate of the kibbutz and advanced to the focal point of the incident together with other fighters, They engaged for about 40 minutes against a squad of 20 terrorists until the terrorists were repelled and killed.[60]

Lt. Col. Or Ben Yehuda, commander of the Caracal Battalion, fought at the head of a force that killed 15 armed Hamas militants in Yated after long hours of fighting.[61] In the battle of Sufa her battalion killed over a hundred Hamas militants under her command, and together with Shayetet 13 cleared the outpost of infiltrators saving the lives of dozens of soldiers.[62]

The involvement of all women tank crews in battle is considered to be the first of its kind.

Israeli Air Force

Women in the Israeli Air Force performed a variety of roles from the first day of the war. This includes pilots, combat navigators,[63] and unmanned aerial vehicle operators.[63]

Other IDF units

President of the State of Israel Isaac Herzog in a meeting with women fighters from the Navy. November 2023
  • Colonel Yarden Shukron-Yifrach, commander of Shahar Battalion in the Rescue and Training Brigade of the Home Front Command, led a force that fought terrorists on Zikim Beach and in Ofakim.[63]
  • Commanders and fighters from the Lions of the Jordan Battalion participated in combat in the surrounding area.[63]
  • Female soldiers participated in combat in the Navy in various roles,[64] such as maritime control operators, as well as saboteurs and fighters on warships.[63]
  • Officers from the Home Front Command in a liaison unit to the local authority, in dozens of cities and authorities across the country, managing civilian readiness for missile attacks and returning to routine afterwards.[65]
  • Lieutenant Ilan Elharar, commander of Battalion 13 of the Golani Brigade's Nahal Oz command post, rescued 7 soldiers from an attack by hundreds of terrorists on the command post.[66]

Israel Police Force

Female officers played a significant role in Israel Police activities with the outbreak of the war. Six policewomen were killed in the line of duty.[67] Staff Sergeant Major Mor Shakuri was killed in a fight with terrorists on the roof of the Sderot Police Station. Senior policewomen were killed in battle with terrorists in Yakhini and Kibbutz Re'im.[68]

References

  1. ↑ "Live updates | Israel says it has launched an operation inside Gaza hospital". AP News. 2023-11-14. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  2. ↑ "Joint statement by UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA and UNRWA on Women and newborns bearing the brunt of the conflict in Gaza". UNICEF. November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  3. ↑ Kekatos, Mary (November 7, 2023). "Why women, children are disproportionately impacted by the conflict in Gaza: Experts". ABC News. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Women bearing the brunt of Israel-Gaza conflict: UN expert". ReliefWeb. November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  5. ↑ קוטב, אדם (2023-10-12). "טלי מאופקים פינתה את בנה תחת אש - והמשיכה לעוד פצועים: "לא היה רגע דל"". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  6. 1 2 גליקמן, איתן (2023-10-10). "השיחה האחרונה של עמית הפרמדיקית: "הצילה חיים עד הרגע האחרון"". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  7. ↑ "הפשעים הבינלאומיים הכרוכים בחטיפות הישראלים ב"חרבות ברזל"". www.idi.org.il (in Hebrew). 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  8. 1 2 3 "שתיקה כואבת במיוחד: "ארגוני הנשים בעולם נטשו ובגדו בנו" | כלכליסט". calcalist (in Hebrew). 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  9. ↑ Tapper, Jake (2023-11-18). "Israel investigates sexual violence committed by Hamas as part of October 7 horror". CNN. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  10. ↑ אייכנר, איתמר; גיל-עד, הדר (2023-11-17). "תחקיר ב-CNN, עדויות קשות: ישראל במאבק בהכחשות מקרי האונס". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  11. ↑ "העדויות לפשעי מין בטבח מצטברות, אך הדרך לבית המשפט עוד ארוכה". הארץ (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  12. ↑ "Israeli Women Fight to Break Global Silence on Hamas' Sexual Violence". Haaretz. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  13. ↑ "Thousands of Women Rally in Tel Aviv in Support of Israeli Hostages in Gaza". Haaretz. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  14. ↑ "Israeli Women Demand a Hostage Deal". Haaretz. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  15. ↑ "The Scope of Hamas' Campaign of Rape Against Israeli Women Is Revealed, Testimony After Testimony". Haaretz. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  16. ↑ "Israel investigates an elusive, horrific enemy: Rape as a weapon of war". Washington Post. 2023-11-25. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  17. ↑ Algemeiner, The (2023-11-23). "Hamas Raped and Massacred Israeli Women; Is There a Way to Hold Them Legally Accountable? - Algemeiner.com". www.algemeiner.com. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  18. ↑ "Israel Police Presents New Evidence of Sexual Assault by Hamas Terrorists on October 7". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  19. ↑ "Israel-Hamas war: Shin Bet interrogations break open Hamas strategy". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2023-11-21. Archived from the original on 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  20. ↑ "Kill, behead, rape: Interrogated Hamas members detail atrocities against civilians". Times of Israel. 24 October 2023. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  21. ↑ Schmitt, Eric; Bergman, Ronen; Goldman, Adam (18 November 2023). "Is Israel's Military Strategy to Eradicate Hamas Working?". The New York Times.
  22. ↑ S.A, Telewizja Polska. "Israeli investigation into Hamas rape cases". tvpworld.com (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  23. ↑ assaf (2023-11-26). "Gender-Based Violence as a Weapon of War during the October 7 Hamas Attacks | Position Paper". רופאים לזכויות אדם. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  24. ↑ "Israel investigates an elusive, horrific enemy: Rape as a weapon of war". Washington Post. 2023-11-25. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  25. ↑ House, The White (2023-10-10). "Remarks by President Biden on the Terrorist Attacks in Israel". The White House. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  26. ↑ Rosenberg, Michelle. "#MeToo Unless Ur A Jew: The activists highlighting Hamas' sexual violence". www.jewishnews.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  27. ↑ BOTBOL, AMELIE (23 November 2023). "Global women's rights groups silent as Israeli women testify about rapes by Hamas". Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  28. ↑ "Crimes sexuels du Hamas en Israël : l'inquiétant silence des organisations internationales". Le Point (in French). 2023-11-23. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  29. ↑ "Israel investigates an elusive, horrific enemy: Rape as a weapon of war". Washington Post. 2023-11-25. Archived from the original on 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  30. ↑ "Guterres: 'Accounts of sexual violence on Oct. 7 must be investigated'". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2023-11-30. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  31. ↑ "UN Women statement on the situation in Israel and Gaza". UN Women – Headquarters. 2023-12-01. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  32. ↑ i24NEWS (2023-12-02). "After 8 weeks, UN Women condemns Hamas' sexual violence on October 7". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2023-12-02.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  33. ↑ Collier, Neil (November 20, 2023). "Palestinian Mothers in Gaza Fear Giving Birth in a War Zone". The New York Times. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  34. ↑ "High risks of miscarriage, death for many pregnant women forced to evacuate from northern Gaza". ReliefWeb. October 16, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Malnourished, sick and scared: Pregnant women in Gaza face 'unthinkable challenges'". France 24. 2023-11-06. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  36. ↑ Limaye, Yogita (November 14, 2023). "Giving birth with no painkillers under the bombs in Gaza". BBC Home. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Relentless attacks, collapse of health and safety systems leave Gaza's women and girls facing "unthinkable challenges"". United Nations Population Fund. October 19, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  38. 1 2 "Israel's Unlawful Blockade of Gaza Sparks Women's Rights Crisis". Human Rights Watch. October 24, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  39. ↑ "At a Gaza hospital, a midwife brings life and volunteers tend the dead". Reuters. November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  40. 1 2 3 "UNRWA Gaza Field Office: Rapid Gender Analysis: Gendered Impacts of the October 2023 Escalation in Gaza" (PDF). United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  41. ↑ Linah Alsaafin, Ruwaida Amer (October 31, 2023). "No privacy, no water: Gaza women use period-delaying pills amid Israel war". Al Jazeera. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  42. 1 2 Berger, Miriam; Harb, Hajar (November 15, 2023). "The heavy burdens of war for Gaza's women and girls". Washington Post. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  43. ↑ "מאות אלפי נשים מגבות את הלחימה בעורף – אך תנאי ההעסקה שלהן בסכנה". TheMarker. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  44. ↑ ליאור, גד (2023-11-07). "עיקר המוצאים לחל"ת: נשים, הורים לילדים וצעירים עד גיל 34". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  45. ↑ ולצר, יעל (2023-11-17). ""ההכנסות החלו לצמוח, וביום אחד - הכל קרס": הנשים שאיבדו את העסק במלחמה". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  46. ↑ "N12 - מח"ט 401: "אנחנו לא מוכנים לצאת מפה עד שזה גמור"". N12. 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  47. ↑ "Nevo Captcha Check". www.nevo.co.il. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  48. ↑ "תחתונים וגוזיות: סופסוף שיר שעושה כבוד ללוחמות שלנו". AT magazine. 1 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  49. ↑ Schneider, Tal (2 November 2023). "ונזכור את כולן: אסון השבעה באוקטובר מאתגר את השיח המגדרי בנושא האבל" [And let's remember them all: the Sheva disaster in October challenges the gender discourse on mourning]. Zman Israel (in Hebrew). Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  50. ↑ זיתון, יואב (2023-11-06). "חודש אחרי, חמ"ל התצפיתניות של נחל עוז נפתח במיקום אחר: "נמשיך להילחם לזכר חברותינו"". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  51. ↑ "מיכל הרצוג במפגש עם תצפיתניות: "תודה מכל הלב - על התפקוד יוצא הדופן"". ערוץ 7 (in Hebrew). 2023-11-06. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  52. ↑ ""הבסיס הפך מהבית השני שלי לבית קברות": התצפיתניות מגבול עזה פותחות את הלב | ישראל היום". www.israelhayom.co.il. 2023-11-18. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  53. ↑ "Courage Under Fire: The IDF Field Observers' Crucial Role".
  54. ↑ "N12 - התצפיתניות התריעו, המפקדים התעלמו: "לא יעשו כלום"". N12. 2023-10-16. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  55. ↑ סרוסי, נטע (2023-11-10). "מוכשרות, חדות ומקצועיות: למה לא הקשיבו לתצפיתניות". Globes. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  56. ↑ "The Women Soldiers Who Warned of a Pending Hamas Attack – and Were Ignored". Haaretz. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  57. ↑ ""מי שיגיד שאי אפשר היה לדעת - משקר": התצפיתניות ראו את חמאס נערך לטבח, אך דבר לא נעשה". הארץ (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  58. ↑ "חמ"ל התצפיתניות שהותקף בטבח נפתח במיקום חדש". mako. 2023-11-06. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  59. ↑ אלבז-אלוש, קורין (2023-11-07). "התצפיתניות חזרו לחמ"ל שבו נהרגו חברותיהן: "באנו לטרוף - בשבילן"". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  60. ↑ [email protected] (2023-10-17). "גבורת הטנקיסטיות: הלוחמות שניהלו קרב על יישובי הדרום". כלבו – חיפה והקריות (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-11-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  61. ↑ זיתון, יואב (2023-10-09). "הקצין בן ה-70 שחיסל מחבלים עם נשקו האישי, ואלו שנפצעו והמשיכו בקרב". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  62. ↑ ""הגדוד שלי הרג כמאה מחבלים. מקווה שלא יהיו יותר ספקות לגבי בנות לוחמות" - וואלה! חדשות". וואלה! (in Hebrew). 2023-10-18. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  63. 1 2 3 4 5 חלוץ, דינה (2023-10-30). ""אחרי 7 באוקטובר אין יותר ספקות לגבי נשים לוחמות, הן עשו כל מה שנדרש"". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  64. ↑ "עשרות סיכולים ותקיפות - 3 ימי לחימה מהעיניים של לוחמי הים. צפו". www.idf.il. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  65. ↑ "לימודים בצל המלחמה: קציני פיקוד העורף מאתרים אזורים מוגנים". Ice (in Hebrew). 2023-11-11. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  66. ↑ "גיבורי ישראל: בתוך התופת התגלתה רוחם של האזרחים והלוחמים". www.israelhayom.co.il. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  67. ↑ "גבורת השוטרות: הגנו בגופן מפני המחבלים ונהרגו בקרב". mako. 2023-10-19. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  68. ↑ תורג'מן, מאיר (2023-10-17). "השוטרת הדתייה חילצה ברכבה עשרות פצועים מהתופת ברעים: "אנחנו לא גיבורים, עשינו את המשימה שלנו"". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-11-19.
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