Chilling Testimonies Emerge from Gaza as Women Break Silence on Sexual Exploitation
While the world has heard harrowing accounts of Israeli hostages sexually brutalized by Hamas, new and equally disturbing testimonies are now emerging from within Gaza itself. Gazans living under Hamas rule are beginning to break their silence, describing systematic sexual abuse, exploitation for aid, and harassment by those in positions of power.
Widespread Abuse and Coercion Reported
Human rights organizations in Gaza have informed the Daily Mail that up to 60,000 women are currently vulnerable to exploitation. The publication has obtained rare video testimony filmed by Jusoor News from inside the Strip, where speaking out carries severe personal risk. In one account, a male Gazan described finding a widow being molested inside a tent by "a bunch of" Hamas members and being warned to stay silent.
"We were contacted by the wife of a friend. She had asked a Qassam Brigades commander to help her, but he took advantage of her," the anonymous source revealed. "His behaviour is disgraceful. We investigated the matter and found her in a tent in the Gharabli area where a bunch of Qassam members were taking advantage of her. We informed the leadership but we were told we had to keep silent about it."
Exploitation by Charitable and Religious Organizations
Multiple accounts detail how charitable and religious organizations in Gaza are exploiting vulnerable women. An elderly Gazan woman told Jusoor News that these groups are deceiving and exploiting "women who are desperate." Another anonymous woman accused religious organizations of "sexual harassment, psychological abuse, and harassing young women."
Another Gazan man confirmed that his female neighbor was blackmailed by "one of Hamas’s charity organisations… they wanted her to wh*** herself in exchange for a food parcel, or an aid voucher, or 100 shekels." A man identifying as being in the Qassam Brigades confirmed similar exploitation of widows, saying he reported it to leadership but was ordered to keep quiet.
Personal Accounts of Coercion and Fear
Noor, a divorced mother of four displaced during the war, spoke to the Daily Mail from Gaza, whispering down the phone for fear of being caught. She described sexual coercion when a religious figure began harassing her at her lowest point.
"I was welcomed by a man who looked religious, like a sheikh. He said he would stand by me and help me," Noor recounted. "He took my phone number, which I believed would lead to fatherly support — but instead he suggested a late-night video call. From the beginning, the way he spoke to me felt like harassment."
When she threatened to expose him, he responded: "You cannot expose me, I am the government here." Noor says this reflects a wider pattern where vulnerable women are targeted because they lack providers and rely on aid. "They exploit women’s need for help. But the women are too scared to speak up," she added.
Alarming Rise in Child Marriage and Adolescent Pregnancy
A United Nations Population Fund report has found a surge in child marriage and adolescent pregnancy in Gaza. Pre-war figures showed adolescent marriage rates had fallen to 11 percent in 2022, down from 26 percent in 2009, highlighting a reversal of earlier progress.
The report noted that at least 400 girls aged 14 to 16 were registered as married over just four months in 2025, though UNFPA warned this likely represents only a fraction of the true scale due to underreporting and collapsed registration systems.
"We are witnessing the dismantling of a generation’s future," said Nestor Owomuhangi, UNFPA Country Representative for the State of Palestine, who attributed the trend to war and worsening humanitarian conditions.
Journalists Risk Lives to Document Abuse
Abdullah, a journalist from Jusoor News who filmed the testimonies, spoke to the Daily Mail from hiding, fearing discovery by Hamas. "Unfortunately, there are many cases — very widespread. In every area, many women are exploited, especially widows and divorced women, because they have no support and no income," he said.
He described threats to his life, including armed men arriving at his location. "If I had been there, they would have shot me," Abdullah revealed. He has been forced into hiding but continues reporting despite the risks.
Systemic Silence and Stigma
Gazan writer Hamza Howidy, author of 'Seashells on the beach of Gaza', warned that many victims remain silent due to stigma and fear of social consequences. "The problem is that most women will never speak about it publicly because society considers it shameful… It’s not only widows who are being affected, but also unmarried women," he said.
Howidy emphasized that the cycle will continue unless women are given economic independence. "Many women are now forced to seek assistance simply to feed their children, and in doing so they become vulnerable to exploitation. It is heartbreaking," he added.
Lack of Documentation and Official Response
Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, director of Realign for Palestine, noted the absence of systematic documentation. "I have seen videos showing women being covered up and sold under the guise of helping them find a husband. Many women in Gaza have been subjected to exploitation — but there is no central body documenting these cases," he said.
Alkhatib added that many NGOs and organizations concerned with women's issues are unable to help, "either for fear of Hamas or its enforced notion that Gazan women are perfectly fine under its control or authority." The Daily Mail contacted UN Women, who didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
These testimonies emerge amid wider allegations of sexual violence in the conflict, including accounts from Israeli hostages, and as Hamas continues to reject proposals to disarm in ceasefire agreements while maintaining tight control over Gaza.
