The Israeli assault on Gaza amounts to a war on women

As the world advances in many aspects of healthcare and human rights, the women of Gaza face an utterly different reality.

- ISRAA SALEH

We face a silent struggle, one of resilience tested by relentless aggression and deprivation, where the simple act of managing a menstrual cycle becomes a battle for dignity and basic human rights.

Menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth should be natural and manageable parts of life, yet they’ve become sources of immense stress and struggle for girls and women in the region. There are almost 700,000 girls and women of menstrual age, in addition to the thousands of girls who had their first menstrual cycle during Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip.

As a doctor specialising in sexual and reproductive health, I have borne witness to these immense and heartbreaking struggles. Every day I see their strength, but also the deep pain and indignity they endure. This perspective is not just professional; it is deeply personal. As a woman, experiencing it alongside them, I strive to support those who are most vulnerable in this fragile setting.

I know the misery of menstruating in such circumstances, when there are no sanitary products. Usually, women and children are the most affected groups in catastrophic situations.

The aftermath of childbirth is an especially vulnerable time, where we have witnessed several women coming to our clinics to follow up after delivery, and when examined, they use pieces of tent or cloth to try to absorb the blood. Bleeding after delivery is far heavier compared to normal menstruation.