In Gaza City, Mona al-Masri, a widow and mother of four, lives under the scorching heat in a displacement tent in northern Gaza. Her husband, Mohammed, was killed in an Israeli strike in September 2024. Each day, Mona strives to secure water, food, and safety for her children amid a reality transformed by war that began in 2023.

According to data from the Ministry of Social Development in Gaza, the total number of widows in the Gaza Strip has risen to more than 50,000. This figure includes 28,224 women who became widows as a result of the war, alongside over 22,500 widows registered before the conflict. Aziza al-Kahlout, spokesperson for the Ministry, indicated that the number is expected to increase further as not all widows have been registered yet.

The widows face immense challenges including displacement, insecurity, and the burden of providing for their families alone.

Sources