Women in Gaza allege sexual exploitation amid aid crisis

As Gaza's humanitarian crisis deepens, women say they have been exploited by men — some linked to aid groups — who promised food, medicine, supplies or work in exchange for sexual interactions.

The Associated Press interviewed six women who described such incidents, speaking anonymously due to fear of retribution and cultural taboos around sexual violence. Their accounts reflect a grim pattern seen in other conflict zones, where desperation and reliance on humanitarian assistance expose women to abuse.

One 38-year-old mother of six recounted how, weeks into the war, she was told of a man who could help her with aid and employment. Believing she was signing a job contract, she was instead taken to an empty apartment. There, the man pressured her into a sexual encounter, later giving her money and food but never delivering on his promise of work until months later. "I had to play along because I was scared. I wanted out of this place," she said.

Other women reported late-night calls from men identifying themselves as aid workers, including one wearing a UNRWA uniform. They said the men solicited sex under the guise of marriage proposals or offers of assistance. Some women refused; others, under pressure, complied. Psychologists in Gaza told AP they have treated dozens of women describing similar exploitation, including cases resulting in pregnancy.

Human Rights Watch's Heather Barr said such abuse is a "horrible reality" in crises, noting that women and girls are especially vulnerable in Gaza's current conditions. Nearly 90 percent of the population has been displaced by the war, while food and water shortages continue.

Local groups, including the Women's Affairs Center and the Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) network, confirmed they were aware of exploitation cases linked to aid distribution. UNRWA, which employs many local contractors, said it has a zero-tolerance policy and investigates all allegations, though survivors say reporting remains fraught with stigma and lack of evidence.

Aid experts warn that the known cases may only be "the tip of the iceberg" due to underreporting, displacement and limited communication. The PSEA network documented 18 allegations of aid-linked sexual exploitation in Gaza last year.

Amal Syam, director of the Women's Affairs Center, said the crisis has worsened the problem but noted that many groups hesitate to publicize the issue, fearing it could overshadow the violence of Israel's ongoing offensive.

For many women, the exploitation adds another layer of humiliation to the struggle for survival. "I felt completely degraded," said a 29-year-old mother of four, who described being harassed with repeated marriage proposals in exchange for food supplements. "I had to ask for help for my children. If I didn't, who would?"