The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day revolves around inclusivity, a goal still distant from our current reality. Throughout history, women have united in solidarity to fight for each other’s rights. Yet, this year have uncovered some harsh truths that we can no longer ignore. True inclusivity, in my opinion, involves creating an environment where every individual is valued, respected, and accepted. The question we must ask ourselves is: Are Palestinian women genuinely included in the vision of inclusivity that we champion? Let’s pause to contemplate the obstacles faced by women in Palestine and question if our celebrations of inclusivity truly hold up against their challenges.
On this International Women’s Day, the women in Gaza bear the burden of a conflict and endure unimaginable hardships. The Health Ministry of Gaza has criticized the international community’s silence, attributing it to the conditions experienced by Palestinian women. This year has been particularly devastating for Palestinian women, marked by aggression and atrocities witnessed since October. These include killings, systematic detentions, and instances of violence as Israeli forces violate the rights of Palestinian women across various contexts.
It is truly enraging to witness the lack of desired attention from feminists, especially considering the atrocities endured by Palestinian women. Since Israel’s onslaught on Gaza commenced, a staggering 9,000 deaths have been reported, with an average of 63 women per day losing their lives, leaving families shattered and communities devastated. Behind these statistics are real women, each with her own story of pain and struggle. Over 23,000 injured are mothers, daughters, and sisters, whose lives have been forever altered by the violence and conflict. Thousands more are missing, leaving behind families desperate for answers and closure. Half a million displaced women are forced to rebuild their lives from the ground up, grappling with the trauma of displacement and loss.
The silence of Western feminists in the face of this suffering is not just a matter of moral conscience, but also a political failure. Pregnant women in Gaza are left without access to vital healthcare services, forced to bring new life into the world under unimaginably difficult circumstances. The closure of medical facilities means that some women must endure childbirth without proper care, risking their own lives and the lives of their babies.
The scarcity of resources has pushed women to extremes, risking their lives to give birth without adequate medical care, anesthesia, or pain relief. Pregnant women face heightened risks of complications, stress-induced miscarriages, and stillbirths, with access to sanitary products also decreasing. In Gaza, women are struggling to find food and water for their families, facing the challenges of starvation and scarcity caused by the ongoing siege. However, the plight of Palestinian women extends far beyond healthcare and food insecurity. Hundreds are arbitrarily detained and subjected to rape and unspeakable violence by Israeli forces, their basic rights and dignity denied.
Isn’t this a grave injustice against women that demands our utmost attention, outrage, and condemnation? How can one claim to be a feminist while turning a blind eye to, or worse, justifying the genocidal actions of a powerful state against a vulnerable population trapped in an open-air prison? Every day, these women are subjected to new depths of suffering, yet those who profess to be feminists remain shockingly silent. It’s high time to confront this hypocrisy and stand up in solidarity with the women of Gaza, demanding justice and an end to their unbearable plight.
“It’s as though feminist ire and power selectively rear its head for issues that fit a decidedly western narrative of liberation — leaving others, such as those in Palestine, in the shadows,” according to Maryam Aldossari, a University of London researcher on Middle East inequality. The above underscores the possibility that Western feminism could be nothing more than a facade. Those who have embraced it blindly may find themselves deceived. They have been rightly accused of displaying selective outrage and applying double standards, unless it fits their narrative of liberation or when it aligns with geopolitical agendas. This hypocrisy is evident when we see their passionate activism for some causes, yet they remain indifferent to the suffering of Palestinian women. However, the whole world must realize with certainty that the will and spirit of the Palestinian woman will not be broken by the cruelty of the Zionist enemy.
If we genuinely embrace the spirit of inclusivity, then it’s not just a matter of celebration—it’s a feminist duty to speak up. We must demand an urgent humanitarian ceasefire, ensuring the safety of all those caught in the conflict. It’s crucial to ensure sustained and unrestricted humanitarian access to provide essential assistance, including food, water, fuel, and healthcare supplies. This is the scale of action needed to truly address the needs of women in Palestine, and it’s our responsibility to stand in solidarity and make it happen.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Rawalpindi
