UN: Over 38,000 Women and Girls Killed in Gaza by End of 2025
UN report finds more than 38,000 women and girls killed in Gaza between Oct 2023 and Dec 2025, with figures likely higher due to reporting limits.
The United Nations on Friday reported that over 38,000 women and girls were killed in Gaza by the end of 2025, a figure that the agency says likely understates the true human cost. The UN Women spokeswoman, Sofia Calltorp, told a Geneva briefing that the deaths occurred between October 2023 and December 2025 and were primarily the result of air bombardment and ground operations. The tally represents more than half of the more than 72,000 fatalities recorded by Gaza’s health ministry in that period, according to the agency’s account.
UN figures and gender breakdown
UN Women’s statement detailed a breakdown showing more than 22,000 adult women and some 16,000 girls among the dead, an average of at least 47 women and girls killed each day during the covered period. The agency said the count is conservative, noting that many bodies remain under rubble and that data collection across the territory is severely constrained. UN officials emphasized the disparity with prior conflicts, highlighting that women and girls made up a proportion of fatalities markedly higher than seen in earlier Gaza hostilities.
Data limitations and reporting challenges
Humanitarian agencies warned that the full scale of female casualties is probably larger than reported, citing collapsed buildings, mass graves, and limited access for health and aid workers. Communication breakdowns and disrupted civil registration systems further impede accurate accounting, the UN said. The agency also noted that many deaths likely go unrecorded amid continuing insecurity and the breakdown of routine reporting mechanisms.
Comparison with past Gaza conflicts
UN Women pointed to a notable shift in the gender profile of casualties compared with previous rounds of violence in Gaza, where civilian fatalities were often more heavily skewed toward men. The agency said the current pattern reflects both the intensity and the character of the military operations, which have resulted in high civilian exposure to aerial and ground strikes. Analysts and aid groups have cautioned that prolonged urban warfare and strikes on densely populated areas increase the vulnerability of women and children.
Humanitarian repercussions on families and services
The loss of tens of thousands of women and girls has compounded the humanitarian crisis across Gaza, straining already fragile health services and disrupting caregiving networks. Hospitals and shelters have struggled to provide emergency care, and the death of caregivers has left many children and elderly dependents without support. Aid agencies report shortages of medical supplies, psychosocial services, and protection programs tailored for women and girls, aggravating risks of exploitation and long-term trauma.
Witness accounts and scenes in Gaza
Grief and mourning have been widespread in Gaza’s communities, with funerals and mass burials reported in besieged neighborhoods. Medical workers and local officials have described scenes of destruction at hospitals and in residential districts, and international agencies have documented repeated attacks near medical facilities. A funeral at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City in April 2025 drew attention to the daily human toll, underscoring the degree of civilian suffering in the densely populated territory.
Calls for protection and international action
UN Women and other humanitarian organizations have urged urgent measures to protect civilians, restore humanitarian access, and strengthen documentation of casualties. Officials called for safe corridors for evacuations, unimpeded delivery of medical assistance, and immediate steps to ensure the protection of women and girls in conflict-affected areas. The agency emphasized the need for independent investigations into civilian deaths and for accountability mechanisms to prevent further loss of life.
The scale of female fatalities in Gaza as reported by the UN underscores the acute human consequences of the conflict and the complex challenges facing humanitarian responders. The agency warned that without increased protection and access, the true extent of the loss, especially among women and girls, may never be fully known.
