War is brutal for all innocent civilians, but it is especially brutal for women.
Today, the Arab region is being torn apart — a genocide in Gaza now more than one year in the making, settler violence in the West Bank, and, in the last two months, a renewed Israeli occupation of Lebanon.
In every crisis, women bear the brunt. With social safety nets shredded, law and order a distant memory, women and girls — already at higher risk in the best of times — face life-threatening danger at every turn.
I’ve seen it firsthand, from Afghanistan to the Central African Republic and Mali, the list goes on. I’ve spent over two decades helping mitigate the risks women experience in war and its aftermath. In these settings, women have less choice, less voice, and less access to opportunity. They are struggling for survival while navigating displacement and a magnified risk of violence.
Women become the backbone, the safety net, and the fighters for survival amid the chaos. But survival comes at a cost.
It is no secret that the US has been funding the genocide in Gaza and actively enabling Israel to continue its crimes with American tax dollars.
With this in mind, the recent US election presented a dilemma for many voters, who had to choose between voting for their principles, supporting a third-party candidate they knew wouldn’t win, or risking another Donald Trump presidency.
On 6 November, the dilemma many faced turned into a nightmare as the world learned that Donald Trump would return to the White House.
His return marks a troubling new chapter for US domestic affairs and foreign policy, with particular concern for Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran in the Middle East.
Women at even greater risk with Trump’s return
With Trump back in power, it is likely that he will continue to support Israel openly, as he did during his first term. For example, he recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, moved the US Embassy there, shut down the US consulate that handled Palestinian affairs in the city, and even controversially told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “get your victory,” further asserting that Netanyahu “knows what he’s doing.”
This reality suggests that peace in countries like Palestine and Lebanon will remain more distant than ever, which, in turn, will put the lives of women in the region at even greater risk.
We are currently in a time of crisis. From decades of research and experience, we know that women are the foundation of families, communities, and nations in crisis and insecurity. Women are the world’s safety net. Yet, their voices are often silenced, and their experiences are rarely heard in their own words.
To hear their voices and gain insight into the experience of war from a women’s perspective, I spoke with Huda Shaaban, a midwife at the Palestinian Family Planning and Protection Agency (PFPPA) in Gaza; Hanan Kaoud, a local council member of the Ramallah Municipality and gender expert from the West Bank; and Moufeeda Haidar, a gender equality specialist from Lebanon.
Here’s what they had to say:
Huda Shaaban: Gaza
Tell us about your experience as a woman living through the genocide
As a woman raising three children, I feel terrified, exhausted and tired due to the circumstances we are living in, particularly with the massacres that we wake up to day and night, in addition to the genocide which is happening to families when they are supposed to be safe in their homes or tents.
“All we need is safety. And we are not safe”
What is the greatest risk for you right now? What are your urgent needs?
The greatest risk and danger we face now is the sudden targeting and bombing of camps crowded with displaced people in areas that were supposed to be “safe.” The reality is that nowhere is safe.
We are also concerned about winter, especially for those living in tents. The cold will make it even harder for those living outside to survive.
All we need is safety. And we are not safe.
What are the longer-term concerns for you — and for women and girls?
We are terrified that this war will continue. It has been one year already. And we worry about the terrible economic conditions we are facing. We cannot survive this because Gaza has nothing left. The obliteration of the infrastructure and destruction of the health and education systems means we have been set back for generations. And our children are losing their future, losing their hope. Our lives are being wasted.
What is the most important thing the world should know? What’s the one action we can take right now to help you?
The world needs to know that Gaza is a city that loves living peacefully and enjoying life. We strive to build and deliver our best so that we can survive, regardless of our circumstances, which makes life extremely difficult, particularly with the closure of all borders and the lack of work opportunities.
Our only hope for the world is to put an end to the genocide.
Hanan Kaoud: West Bank
Tell us about your experience as a woman living through constant attacks and violence
Imagine waking up in the dead of night to the sound of footsteps pounding outside your home, followed by the crash of a door being forced open.
For families in the West Bank and Gaza, this is reality. Settler violence, house demolitions, and night raids are daily fears. Homes, already crumbling from neglect, are destroyed by army bulldozers, and rebuilding is nearly impossible due to permit restrictions.
In the West Bank, settlers expand their homes, seizing land while Palestinian families watch their houses torn down with little warning. The pain is not just material but emotional, as settlements expand without regard for the people who have lived there for generations.
You see what is happening in Gaza, but not the West Bank or East Jerusalem.
“Yet, in their resilience, they refuse to be erased. Despite the crumbling world around them, they persist…”
In East Jerusalem, the forcible transfer of residents and laws like family reunification force families apart. This collective punishment splits families and leaves them vulnerable to exile or living in ever-smaller, insecure spaces. The threat of losing your home because of who you married or where you come from is a constant, heavy burden.
And in Gaza, life has become a constant cycle of displacement and survival.
Since October 2023, women and girls have been forced to flee their homes, living in overcrowded camps with limited resources. They live in displacement camps, where resources are scarce, but their strength and resilience are evident in the way they carry on with their daily lives, despite the unimaginable circumstances.
Amidst the chaos, there is no relief. In the camps, basic needs are unmet — food, clean water, and shelter are scarce.
Families, especially those with disabilities, are left helpless, while children take on adult responsibilities, like fetching contaminated water.
For pregnant women, the situation is even worse. With hospitals destroyed and no medical supplies, many give birth without assistance, in fear and uncertainty. The right to a safe birth has been shattered.
These women, children, and families are fighting for more than survival — they are holding onto their humanity amidst destruction. The attacks target not just their homes, but their very existence, aiming to erase them.
Yet, in their resilience, they refuse to be erased. Despite the crumbling world around them, they persist, clinging to life, hope, and each other.
What is the greatest risk for you right now? What are your urgent needs?
Right now, my biggest worry is staying safe. We need basics, safe spaces, and protection. It feels like we, the people of Palestine and Lebanon, are fighting for survival every single day.
This is the reality of living under settler violence and occupation. It’s not just the physical destruction of homes or the expansion of settlements; it’s the systematic dismantling of hope, security, and dignity. Every day is a battle to survive, to keep hold of what little remains, and to find the strength to resist in the face of oppression.
What are the longer-term concerns for you — and for women and girls?
Women, especially those on the front lines defending human rights, are specifically targeted. They are harassed, attacked, and arrested; their voices are silenced as they demand justice. The threat is not only to them as individuals but to the entire fabric of Palestinian society, where women play a vital role in advocating for peace and equality.
Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is one such example.
My concern is not just the rights of women and girls, but the right of all Palestinians to live freely. We deserve safety, dignity, justice, and equality. But this won’t happen as long as the US continues to arm Israel’s Zionist expansion in the Middle East.
The war must end, and the world must hold those responsible accountable.
What’s the most important thing the world should know? What’s the one action we can take right now to help you?
As a Palestinian, I’ve endured crisis after crisis for over 50 years; colonisation and occupation are constant shadows. But I stay strong, like those in Gaza and Beirut facing bombings and the killing of innocents. Our steadfastness, history, culture, and faith are what keep us going.
Our struggle isn’t about proving our humanity — we already know who we are. What we need is for governments to find their humanity and act on it.
The war must stop, but more importantly, we need a world committed to justice and the liberation of Palestinians. You can help by demanding an end to the war and building global solidarity. Together, we have the power to resist a Zionist project aiming to control the Middle East.
Be brave.
Moufeeda Haidar: Lebanon
Tell us about your experience as a woman living through this crisis
I come from an area currently under heavy bombing by Israel. While most of my family has relocated to safer areas, some remain, facing brutal attacks with little access to necessities. Despite checking on loved ones, I live in constant fear of losing my home or family, reminding me of the wars in 1996 and 2006, but with even greater brutality.
Currently, I work with feminist, youth-led organisations made up of people who either live in conflict zones and have been displaced or are helping in areas considered “safer.” What I’ve learned is that women and girls are especially vulnerable, struggling to protect their families while lacking basic hygiene, personal space, and medication.
“Living in constant uncertainty… is one of the hardest parts. None of us know how this war will unfold or when it will end”
Syrian refugees and migrant workers face even more discrimination, and many are excluded from shelters. We cannot overlook the specific cultural and religious needs of many of the displaced women. Safety and security in shelters for women and children are of utmost concern.
With the absence of an adequate emergency response, civil society and young people are stepping up to address these challenges with whatever resources we have.
Additionally, we must not ignore the immense psychological burden and uncertainty many are enduring.
What is the greatest risk for you right now? What are your urgent needs?
Living in constant uncertainty, unsure of how safe we are or how long that safety will last — even in “safe” areas — is one of the hardest parts. None of us know how this war will unfold or when it will end.
Wars like this hit women, girls, and vulnerable communities the hardest, worsening their already difficult situations. It’s not just about protecting yourself but worrying for your entire community. No one is safe until we all are.
Right now, survival is about the basics — families fled their homes in minutes, with no time to pack or plan, leaving everything behind just to stay alive.
What are the longer-term concerns for you — and for women and girls?
Winter is approaching, bringing heavy rains and cold weather, while people remain in shelters with limited access to necessities.
Schools are still closed, and there’s no decision yet from the Minister of Education on whether learning will be online or hybrid, threatening the future of young girls.
There is growing fear of shortages in food and medical supplies, especially as Israel continues bombing factories, civil defence facilities, and medical centres, ignoring international humanitarian law. This also impacts healthcare services, particularly for pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as access to hygiene products.
What’s the most important thing the world should know? What’s the one action we can take right now to help you?
Take to the streets, go on strike, and pressure your governments to demand a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon.
Thousands of civilians are being killed, and millions more are impacted. The effects are not just immediate; they will resonate across future generations. Children are witnessing death, losing limbs, education, and their futures.
The consequences are far-reaching — don’t underestimate their severity. Help us gather funds to respond to needs in the absence of government support.
Don’t remain silent — raise your voice as loudly as possible.
‘We must act’
The words of these women are even more critical in our present political moment.
The genocide in Gaza concerns us. The invasion of Lebanon concerns us. And even for those who are not American, this election concerned us. Another Trump presidency concerns us. This does not stay neatly confined within its borders. With the risk of a wider war, we have no choice but to act.
To echo Hanan’s words, “What we need is for governments around the world to find their humanity and act on it.”
It is long overdue.
Lina AbiRafeh is a women’s rights activist, author and speaker
Follow her on Instagram: @LinaAbiRafeh
To support IPPF in their humanitarian work across the Middle East, visit https://www.ippf.org/donate
To read more about global women’s issues, visit www.LinaAbiRafeh.com