Gaza is facing a deepening humanitarian crisis marked by a significant surge in child marriages and disturbing allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by members of Hamas and associated charity organizations. Reports indicate that over 400 girls aged 14 to 16 were registered as married in emergency courts over a four-month period in 2025 alone, a figure the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) suggests is likely an underestimate. This alarming trend coincides with testimonies of sexual violence against displaced women, as detailed in a recent Daily Mail report.
According to a Daily Mail article by Natalie Lisbona, video testimony from inside Gaza has emerged, detailing instances of sexual assault. One account describes a Qassam Brigades commander allegedly organizing the molestation of a displaced widow in a tent in Deir al-Balah after she sought his help. A witness who reported the incident was reportedly ordered to remain silent, highlighting a potential cover-up within the organization.
The Daily Mail report further reveals that Hamas's own charity organizations are accused of blackmailing vulnerable women, offering food parcels or 100 shekels in exchange for sex. "Hamas terrorists are gang-raping displaced widows in tents in Gaza. But when it gets reported up the chain, leadership orders silence. The media has largely ignored it too," stated Eitan Fischberger in a social media post, reflecting the gravity of the allegations.
The UNFPA has confirmed a sharp increase in child marriages, noting that the war has reversed years of progress in reducing the practice. Displacement, poverty, and the collapse of social and legal systems are driving families to marry off underage daughters, often viewing it as a survival strategy or a means of protection. However, these marriages frequently lead to gender-based violence, psychological distress, and high rates of adolescent pregnancies, with approximately 10% of newly registered pregnancies in December 2025 attributed to adolescents.
These developments underscore a severe protection crisis for women and girls in Gaza, where the ongoing conflict has exacerbated vulnerabilities and created an environment ripe for exploitation. Both the alleged sexual abuses by Hamas members and the rising rates of child marriage contribute to a dire humanitarian situation requiring urgent attention from international bodies and aid organizations.
