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?”
