UNFPA reports 123% surge in forced marriages and sexual violence in Gaza
The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) reports a 123% increase in early and forced marriages in Gaza’s second quarter of 2026, driven by extreme poverty and displacement. Testimonies from 230 women describe girls being traded for food or married to rapists to avoid stigma. While the UNFPA attributes this to war-induced collapse of social structures, the Jerusalem Post criticizes the report for ignoring Hamas’s role in sexual exploitation, noting that women fear retaliation from armed groups.
