GENEVA (19 March 2026) –Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian operations in Gaza and the West Bank are inflicting severe and escalating gender-specific harm, UN experts* warned today.

“Women and girls are bearing a disproportionate share of deprivation as access to food, healthcare, shelter, water, and sanitation continues to collapse,” the experts said.

On 30 December 2025, Israel issued regulations further restricting the operations of 37 international humanitarian organisations. “Obstructing humanitarian assistance in an already catastrophic context does not affect everyone equally,” the experts warned. “Those already in vulnerable situations often experience the most severe impacts.”

Women and girls are facing heightened risks to their life, health, safety, and dignity, with consequences that are immediate and long-term, they said.

According to the experts, the collapse of the healthcare system in Gaza has placed women’s lives in immediate danger. Maternal, sexual, and reproductive health services have been severely disrupted, leaving pregnant women without access to safe childbirth, emergency obstetric care, or essential medicines.

“Denying access to maternal and reproductive healthcare in these conditions puts lives at direct risk,” the experts warned. “Pregnant women, older women, women with disabilities, and women-headed households are among those at greatest risk.”

The destruction of infrastructure, mass displacement and limited access to sanitary products and WASH services has also made it nearly impossible for hundreds of thousands of women and girls to manage menstruation safely and with dignity, the experts noted.

Girls face acute risks linked to malnutrition, preventable diseases, displacement, and the erosion of protective environments.

“When humanitarian aid is blocked, girls are more likely to suffer from hunger, illness and interrupted education,” the experts said. The collapse of key safeguards, including access to safe shelter, basic services and schooling, exposes girls to heightened risks of exploitation, violence and long-term harm – impacts that are too often overlooked.

Women and girls are forced to compensate for the resulting shortfalls through increased unpaid care work and harmful coping strategies, often at the expense of their own health and well-being.

“This impact constitutes indirect discrimination and further entrenches structural gender inequality,” they said.

“Gender-sensitive humanitarian assistance is not discretionary,” the experts said. “By obstructing access to aid, Israel is denying women and girls protection and support they are entitled to under international law.” 

The experts have been in contact with the Government of Israel about these issues.