CRSV: Gaza in 2023

Written By The Gender Security Project

This case note documents the occurrence of violence in violent conflict. It contains explicit mentions of different forms of violence targeting sexual and reproductive health rights. Reader discretion is advised.

Background of the settler colonial violence

In 2007, Israel set in place a land, air, and sea blockade on Gaza, that operates to date. This blockade was enforced by barriers with the police stationed in large numbers, and restricted what can go in and out of Gaza. On October 7, 2023, Hamas fired rockets into southern Israel (Al Jazeera, 2023). They then cut through the blockade and crossed into Israel. Most of them entered through breaches in security barriers separating Gaza and Israel (Al Jazeera, 2023). attacked Israeli civilians during a music festival. Israel retaliated with violence that has continued unabated, since, targeting civilians – especially children and babies, religious establishments, and hospitals. These events followed Israel’s recent storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, and killing of a record number of Palestinians (Al Jazeera, 2023). Gun battles ensued between Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters in several areas of southern Israel. Over a month and counting at the time of writing, Israel subjected Gaza to intense, aggressive bombing, targeting all parts including the Jabalia refugee camp, and several hospitals and medical facilities. Aside from devastating bombs, reports show that white phosphorus – a weapon that is declared illegal in international law – has been used (Human Rights Watch, 2023). The bombing destroyed waterways, medical and healthcare facilities, and electricity. On several occasions, connectivity was shut down.

Israel’s bombing of Gaza for 35 days at the time of writing produced a significant humanitarian catastrophe, with mass civilian massacres and deaths amounting to genocide and ethnic erasure, as well as the forced displacement of several people in Gaza. Israel targeted hospitals and medical facilities, children, and civilians alike, in violation of the Geneva Convention (Al Jazeera, 2023). At the time of writing, at least 11,078 people were killed, of which at least 4,506 were children. Violence also escalated in the occupied West Bank, resulting in 183 deaths at the time of study (Al Jazeera, 2023).

Prevalence of Violence targeting the Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights of Women

At the start of the conflict, various reports confirmed that approximately 50,000 women in Gaza were pregnant, with 5,522 expected to deliver within November (UN Women, 2023; WHO, 2023; UNFPA, 2023). With the deliberate targeting of hospitals and medical facilities, women have not had access to medical healthcare. There have been instances where women were forced to have caesarean sections without anaesthesia, deliver prematurely, and even have their uterus removed for post-partum hemorrhage. Several mothers wind up dying from injuries after being bombed, and their babies have been saved through belatedly performed caesarean deliveries (Rajvanshi, 2023). The removal of their uterus has ended the possibility of future fertility (Blackall, 2023). With hospitals running out of electricity and fuel, incubators and medical equipment have stopped functioning, endangering the lives of women and newborns alike (WHO, 2023). Several Palestinian women resorted to taking tables to delay their menstrual cycles owing to the unsanitary circumstances, the lack of water, and appropriate supplies. They have been taking norethisterone tablets, which keep progesterone hormone levels raised to stop the uterus from shedding its lining (Alsaafin and Amer, 2023). This can create major side effects including irregular vaginal bleeding, nausea, changes to the menstrual cycle, dizziness and mood swings (Alsaafin and Amer, 2023).

Basis of Violence targeting the Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights of Women

The settler colonial violence involving the deliberate targeting of medical facilities, hospitals, and water supply, and blocking supplies from reaching Gaza have produced direct, adverse impacts on the sexual and reproductive health and related rights of women. The use of weapons and bombs is in furtherance of a necropolitical agenda and has resulted in significant setbacks on the sexual and reproductive health rights of women and may affect future fertility, health setbacks, and in the process, also affect social, cultural, and family dynamics. This targeted violence has resulted in a genocide with future-facing effects with the adverse impact on reproductive capacity.

References:

The Gender Security Project
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