West bank: Women and girls in the occupied West Bank face heightened risks of violence, displacement, and movement restrictions, according to a new analysis by UN Women released Tuesday.
According to Anadolu Agency, the analysis found that about 83,200 households in the West Bank are headed by women, while 40% of women-headed households reported being displaced from their original homes, compared with 30% of male-headed households. Sofia Calltorp, UN Women's chief of humanitarian action, highlighted the challenges faced by women who suddenly become responsible for their households, pointing to difficulties in securing income, humanitarian assistance, and basic needs. Calltorp emphasized, "Women who suddenly find themselves heading households must earn an income, secure assistance and protect their families under extremely difficult conditions."
The analysis further revealed that 57% of women heading households feared being arrested, compared with 76% of men who expressed the same concern. Movement restrictions emerged as a significant issue, with UN Women reporting 925 movement obstacles across the West Bank, including checkpoints, road barriers, and trenches, marking the highest level recorded in two decades. Every woman heading a household interviewed for the analysis said she avoided checkpoints, while nearly nine in 10 said checkpoints made them feel unsafe. These restrictions impact women's ability to access food, humanitarian assistance, essential services, and employment.
UN Women also found worrying trends related to gender-based violence and humanitarian aid. One in five women heading households reported fearing gender-based violence, while one in four women-headed households stated they received no humanitarian assistance. More than half of women-headed households with a member suffering from a chronic illness reported unmet cash needs, while two-thirds had taken loans and half reported skipping meals. The analysis was based on a survey of about 800 households across all 11 West Bank governorates conducted in November and December 2025.
In light of these findings, UN Women called for an end to violence and movement restrictions in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and urged for measures to support women-headed households. The situation has been exacerbated by frequent raids by Israeli forces on cities, towns, and refugee camps across the occupied West Bank, often involving home searches, arrests, and gunfire, amid escalating tensions since Israel's conflict with the Gaza Strip began in October 2023.