Sexual Exploitation in Gaza
BREAKING: The Horrifying Sexual Exploitation Scandal Rocking Gaza Aid Efforts
Investigation reveals disturbing allegations of sexual exploitation in Gaza's aid distribution, with UNRWA workers accused of demanding sexual favors in exchange for humanitarian assistance.
A report by the Associated Press (AP) reveals alarming allegations that vulnerable Gazan women are being sexually exploited by some Palestinian men and aid workers, including staff from UNRWA, who are leveraging humanitarian resources for sexual favors.
Six anonymous women detailed instances of coercion, backed by local psychologists who reported that dozens of women have shared similar stories, with some resulting in pregnancies.
Coercion and Failed Reporting
Accounts show a disturbing pattern. One woman was allegedly promised a six-month UNRWA contract only after a male worker, driving a UN-marked vehicle, transported her to a secluded apartment and pressured her into intercourse. She explained she complied out of fear:
"I had to play along because I was scared."
A 35-year-old widow who was receiving aid from UNRWA reported giving her number to a worker, which led to late-night calls that quickly escalated into explicit sexual questioning. After she refused his request for intercourse, she never received any further humanitarian aid.
Another mother was offered nutritional supplements for her children only if she agreed to marry an aid worker. After refusing, he harassed her with vulgar phone calls. She stated,
"I felt completely humiliated. I had to go and ask for help for my children. If I didn’t do it, who would?”
The UN's agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, told AP it maintains a zero tolerance policy for sexual harassment and does not require proof to investigate complaints. However, the 35-year-old widow claims UNRWA staff dismissed her complaint, telling her a recording of the call was necessary, a requirement that contradicted agency policy and was impossible with her older phone.
“It’s a horrible reality that humanitarian crises make people vulnerable in many ways, increased sexual violence is often a consequence,” Heather Barr, associate director for the women’s rights division at Human Rights Watch, told AP.
Systemic Issues Amidst Crisis
The issue is not limited to Gaza. According to a March 2024 UN release, the organization received 758 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse globally committed by staff and related personnel in 2023. The PSEA network, which UNRWA belongs to, reported 18 allegations linked to receiving humanitarian aid in Gaza specifically in 2024.
Meanwhile, some local activists are attempting to deflect blame, arguing that Israel's siege and aid restrictions are "forcing women to resort to this," and that the focus should remain on Israeli "violence and violations." This deflection occurs even as Israel and the U.S. highlight the failure of aid delivery mechanisms and accusations that Hamas is stealing resources.