JERUSALEM — Several women in the Gaza Strip have told journalists they were sexually exploited by men who offered food, money, or promises of work in exchange for sexual interactions, according to an Associated Press investigation published this week. The AP interviewed six women who described coercive encounters, some involving men they say were connected to aid distribution or who posed as aid workers.
The women spoke anonymously because of fear and social stigma. Local psychologists and charities told the AP they have seen an increase in such cases as hunger, displacement, and the breakdown of social protections intensify. Aid organizations and protection networks in the region say formal reports remain low compared with what survivors and helpers describe in private.
UNRWA, the United Nations agency that serves Palestinian refugees, said it has strict zero-tolerance policies on sexual exploitation and abuse and that it is part of the humanitarian community’s Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse network. UNRWA’s public materials stress prevention, reporting, and investigation procedures while also noting the difficulties of conducting inquiries in an active conflict zone.
The AP report said some of the allegations concern men described by women as being linked to aid operations. Other alleged perpetrators were local men exploiting the desperation of displaced families. The Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse network and some local NGOs told reporters they had received dozens of formal allegations in recent periods, but that underreporting is likely widespread.
Israeli officials and pro-Israel advocates argue that the humanitarian breakdown in Gaza, compounded by the presence of Hamas and the collapse of civil order, has left civilians, especially women, dangerously exposed. They say the international community must press aid organizations to ensure robust vetting, supervision, and on-the-ground accountability for staff.
UNRWA and other U.N. entities face longstanding scrutiny over oversight and alleged ties between some local staff and militant groups. Independent reviews and external reports in recent years have urged improved safeguards, while the agency has defended its overall mandate and the conduct of the majority of its staff. In wartime conditions, investigators say, both proving individual culpability and protecting survivors who speak out become harder.
Experts who spoke to journalists described common patterns in conflict zones: predators take advantage of aid distribution points or the personal data people provide when seeking help. Survivors often fear reporting because of stigma, potential retaliation, and a belief that nothing will change. Local women’s groups told reporters that some victims had become pregnant and that many cases never reach formal complaint mechanisms.
Humanitarian agencies say they are constrained by security, access, and the collapse of institutional oversight. They also stress their responsibility to protect vulnerable people and to investigate credible allegations promptly. UNRWA’s public guidance on sexual misconduct emphasizes reporting channels and disciplinary measures, but implementation depends on secure access and reliable evidence in a war zone.
The AP investigation and other reporting do not present evidence that abuse is systemic across all aid operations. But they document credible allegations that demand swift action from international agencies, donors, and local authorities, where possible, to protect women in Gaza and to hold abusers accountable.
This article is based on verified information from the Associated Press, Reuters, UNRWA public materials, and follow-up reporting by regional outlets.