Battleground Gaza proves why all wars are feminist issues

By Chanda Bisht. Photography by Hosny Salah in Gaza, Palestine

Throughout history, war has shattered people’s lives and their belief in humanity, creating generational trauma that feeds future conflict. It has devastated physical infrastructure and the planet. But, despite multinational efforts towards peacebuilding in the past century, military warfare continues to be a daily reality in various parts of the world, from Ukraine to Gaza.

It is bewildering that, instead of using their wealth on productive causes, the world’s most developed nations spend trillions of dollars every year on developing cutting-edge technology and weapons that have no other purpose but to kill humans and destroy lands and the environment. Most of these sophisticated weapons are used on the poorest populations in the world, such as in Gaza.

Besides impoverished communities, studies have shown that women and children are disproportionately impacted by war and bear the brunt of brutal violence and displacement. They are more likely to experience loss of homes, access to healthcare, and basic services.

Taking up the case study of Israel’s ongoing military onslaught of Gaza, which is largely funded by the United States, here are the reasons why this war and all others are feminist issues.

Violence Against Women

“I used to think we were safer as women in a war zone, that there was a certain honour toward women,” writes Christine Lamb in her acclaimed 2020 book Our Bodies, Their Battlefield. But that’s not the case. Instead, in today’s conflict zones, she says, “it is more dangerous to be a woman.”

Indeed, women and children are more likely to be killed in war. An April report by UN Women had found that over 10,000 women had been killed in Gaza ever since Israel began its military assault last October.

In February this year, UN experts said in a statement, “We are shocked by reports of the deliberate targeting and extrajudicial killing of Palestinian women and children in places where they sought refuge, or while fleeing. Some of them were reportedly holding white pieces of cloth when they were killed by the Israeli army or affiliated forces.”

Women in armed conflict also face increased risks of sexual, physical and psychological violence and exploitation, and Gaza has been no exception. As Lamb writes, “Ever since man has gone to war, he has helped himself to the women, whether to humiliate his enemy, wreak revenge, satisfy his lust, or just because he can – indeed rape is so common in war that we speak of the rape of a city to describe its wanton destruction.”

In addition to threat of violence from outsiders, war exacerbates existing gender inequalities. For instance, in Gaza and other parts of the world where social structures are largely conservative and patriarchal, prolonged occupation leads to increase in reports of domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence inside homes too.

Human-Rights Violations

Feminist analysis often highlights the intersection of various forms of oppression, including gender, race, and class. The situation in Gaza involves human-rights violations that disproportionately affect women, making it a feminist issue to advocate for their rights and protections.

Hostage-taking is a common tactic used in any war. The current siege of Gaza began after the armed resistance group Hamas took 250 Israeli hostages in October 2023 in retaliation for thousands other Palestinian hostages taken by Israel in previous years (9500 by some counts). Many of these hostages on both sides are women and children.

Additionally, many women are forcibly displaced from their homes, adding to their trauma and insecurity. According to the United Nations, 1.7 million Palestinians are internally displaced, or about 75 percent of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents.

The situation is desperate with people facing severe shortages of food and water. The humanitarian crisis has reached a critical point where starvation too is now claiming lives.

All news out of Gaza is deeply troubling. As of May 2024, over 37,400 Palestinians had been killed in Gaza and another 80,000 were estimated to be injured, of which three out of four were female.

Women and children in conflict zones not only endure physical violence, they also face emotional devastation from being separated from their families and communities, and mental exhaustion of trying to survive each day. The lack of basic necessities like food and water intensifies their suffering, showing how gender-based inequalities intersect with broader humanitarian emergencies.

Economic Impact on Women

The economic consequences of conflict, such as unemployment and poverty, can hit women particularly hard. They often have fewer resources and less access to financial support, making it more difficult for them to recover and rebuild their lives post-conflict.

According to reports, 80 percent of people in Gaza rely on international assistance to survive. More than half of the population is unemployed leading to the decline of economic growth.

The economic impact on women is significant, as many face homelessness, widowhood, and unemployment. This leads to economic instability, and curtails their ability to provide for themselves and their families.

Healthcare and Reproductive Rights

The ongoing tragedy has greatly impacted access to healthcare, including reproductive health services. In Gaza, the destruction of infrastructure and medical facilities limits women’s access to necessary care, affecting maternal health and wellbeing.

Israel’s months-long siege of Gaza has either destroyed or left most hospitals there out of service. This lack of healthcare services is particularly dire for children, who face extreme malnutrition due to food shortages or grievous injuries due to bombardment.

Even before October 7, 2023, about 94,000 Palestinian women and girls already lacked access to sexual and reproductive health services, according to UNFPA. This figure rose to over one million in the first five months of the Israeli bombardments.

Menstruating women and girls have no access to sanitary products, with many forced to use tent scraps. Many others have missed their periods completely due to the stress of war. 

Many pregnant women – approximately 50,000 of them at the start of the war – have miscarried due to stress, shock and lack of food. Medical facilities for safe birthing are now virtually non-existent.

Addressing such issues requires a feminist approach that highlights the need for protection and support for survivors. War not only inflicts severe physical and mental trauma, but also highlights deep-rooted social inequalities. The limited or non-existent access to justice worsens the situation.

All photos courtesy Hosny Salah / Pixabay