Palestinian Women Defy Israeli Aggression and Family Hardships Through Work

Watan-The elderly Palestinian woman Umm Khaled Al-Qassas gently touches the heads of her grandchildren, after their father, Mu’taz, was martyred in an Israeli airstrike that hit the tuk-tuk he was working on during the brutal Israeli aggression. He had been trying to earn a living to feed his children, who are now among tens of thousands left without a breadwinner to support even their most basic daily needs.

In Gaza’s overcrowded neighborhoods, now blanketed by destruction, many women face unexpected and overwhelming challenges, becoming sole providers for their families after losing their husbands in the war. Their strength is pulled in every direction—grieving their loss, bearing immense responsibility, and trying to survive.

Beyond the economic hardship, these women face severe emotional trauma, having lost husbands or sons who were the main providers. Left without time to grieve, they’re thrust into a cruel reality marked by continuous war, the return of Israeli attacks after a brief pause, and a collapsing economy worsened by widespread destruction, soaring prices, and severe shortages of humanitarian aid and essential goods.

Many widowed women navigate from one charity to another, searching for anything to feed their children and lighten their heavy burdens. Yet, due to complicated registration processes and complaints about unfair aid distribution, many are forced to seek work instead. Umm Khaled, who suffers from diabetes and lacks access to medication, explains that her son had been living in Egypt for five years. She had asked him to return so his children could continue their primary education. He supported her decision and began applying for a work permit in Israel.

She recounts that he returned to Gaza two months before the war began, and just two days before his permit was due, the assault started. “We were forced to flee to the southern governorates. Mu’taz was with us and began working with a tuk-tuk to cover basic needs,” she says.

On the day of his martyrdom, Mu’taz was transporting a shipment of dates near Bani Suhaila roundabout in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. He had left his phone behind, and went missing for three days, until someone informed her of his death. He returned only through his blood-stained ID card.

Widowed Mothers on the Frontlines

The daily routine of women who lost their husbands begins early in Gaza: standing in long lines for charity meals or bread, registering for aid programs, or trying to earn a living by sewing, baking bread, or preparing homemade meals for sale.

Khadija Eid, a mother of four, explains how her life was turned upside down after her husband Mohammed was martyred by shrapnel from a nearby house that was bombed. He had lost his grocery shop at the start of the war, and had been trying to earn money through temporary jobs—until he was killed, leaving the family without income.

With no support from orphan care institutions, she resorted to selling some of the food aid to cover other basic needs and began baking bread to sell to neighbors and in the market. “I had never worked a day in my life,” she says. “Suddenly, I was the only one responsible for four children. The aid wasn’t enough, so I wake up before dawn to finish all the tasks.”

Rafqa Muhammad Ali, a mother of five, also lost her husband during the war and found herself without any income. She sold part of her aid to buy more essential goods and started reselling items at a nearby displacement school. “Now we survive off the small daily profit,” she says. “It’s exhausting being both a mother and father.”

She tried to seek financial help but found none. “So I had no choice but to start working. I couldn’t rely on anyone else.”

Ibtihal Omar, a former private school teacher and mother of two, lost her husband at the start of 2024. She felt her life had stopped, but she gathered her strength to raise her children Hossam and Rahaf. Before the war, she used to support her husband financially. After the aggression began, she lost everything—her home, her job, and her partner.

She now gives private tutoring lessons for a small fee to help children cope with Gaza’s collapsed education system while trying to earn an income. Since her husband’s death, she has received little more than symbolic moral support, with minimal humanitarian aid that doesn’t cover their growing needs, especially amid severe inflation. “Widows are left to face their fate alone,” she says. “Some help exists, but it’s irregular. We have to find our own solutions to feed our kids instead of relying on handouts.”

Reem Al-Safadi shares a similar story. Her husband Fadi was killed during Israel’s second raid on Al-Shifa Medical Complex. Since then, she has received only minimal aid. Though her husband’s modest income from a sweets distribution company barely covered their needs, it was sufficient. After his job ended with the war, he worked as a truck assistant transporting goods and aid—until he was martyred.

Recently, Reem had to sell her last piece of gold to provide for her family. The couple had been relying on gold savings since the beginning of the war to cope with skyrocketing prices. Now, Reem is actively trying to volunteer or work with international NGOs, food kitchens, or aid centers. “I’m a skilled cook and have taken many courses,” she says. “If I can get a job with a stable salary, I could ease my family’s suffering.”

Soaring Poverty and Unemployment

Estimates suggest that poverty in Gaza has reached 100%, and unemployment has surpassed 80%. The Red Cross spokesperson in Gaza, Hisham Mhanna, recently said that hundreds of thousands of families now live below the poverty line. He added:”We don’t want people to die from lack of food. We need a stable humanitarian response to bring about the necessary change.”