Recent reports from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) highlight a sharp rise in gender-based violence (GBV) against women and girls in the Gaza Strip, including a significant increase in early and forced marriages. The protracted crisis in Gaza has created conditions where women and girls face escalating risks of GBV. One report, based on data from 10 organizations, and another analyzing testimonies from 230 women in displacement camps in Gaza City and Khan Younis, reveal disturbing accounts of violence experienced or witnessed by displaced individuals. In a school-turned-shelter in Gaza, a displaced woman shared how rape victims are often forced to marry their attackers to avoid shame and scandal. Another woman recounted how, during a period of severe food shortages, a man married off his 14-year-old daughter in exchange for two bags of flour. Six women from different displacement camps shared similar stories of such exchanges, which were previously unheard of before the conflict between Israel and Hamas began in 2023. According to the UNFPA, the number of reported cases of early and forced marriage increased by 123% in the second quarter of this year compared to the first quarter. These marriages involved girls aged 12 to 17. Nestor Owomuhangi, the UNFPA representative in Palestine, described the trends as shocking, noting that the extreme circumstances over the past three years have broken down social structures, leaving no system in place. Despite the reopening of food markets, many cannot afford basic goods, and extreme poverty and hunger persist, with many relying on charitable handouts. Over two million Gazans have been displaced from their homes, with most living in makeshift tent camps or damaged buildings. Public services have largely collapsed, and Israeli air strikes have continued despite a ceasefire. Before the war, girls in Gaza outnumbered and outperformed boys in education beyond primary school. Now, with prolonged school closures, many children have dropped out. Boys are often pressured to find informal work to support their families, while girls face heightened safety concerns. In a socially conservative environment with little privacy, many report increased sexual harassment and abuse. Some families see marriage as a way to protect their daughters and preserve modesty. The UNFPA report, based on research from late 2025 to early 2026, reveals that girls orphaned during the war are especially vulnerable. One woman in a Gaza City camp described attending the wedding of two girls from her family, aged 14 and 15, whose uncles married them off due to the death of their parents. Aid agencies argue that the dangers for women in Gaza could be significantly reduced by improving humanitarian conditions. There are calls for Israel to allow higher-quality shelters and better sanitation equipment into the territory, as Israel restricts items it deems potentially usable for military purposes. Efforts are ongoing to improve education and healthcare, and longer-term plans include campaigns to combat domestic violence and child marriage.