Gaza women narrate horror as war continues 'Food in Exchange for Sex'

In a war-torn enclave where food is scarce, jobs have vanished and nearly the entire population has been displaced, some women in Gaza say desperation has made them targets of sexual exploitation by men linked to aid distribution.

After weeks of struggling to feed her six children, one 38-year-old mother thought she'd found relief. A man promised her a job with an aid agency, she told the Associated Press. Instead, he drove her to an empty apartment.

“I had to play along because I was scared, I wanted out of this place,” the woman said. He later gave her 100 shekels - about $30 - and some food. The job never materialized.

She is among six women who shared



their stories with AP, describing how men offered food, money, supplies or work in exchange for sexual favors. Some said the offers were direct: “Let me touch you.” Others were couched in cultural language: “I want to marry you.”

Aid groups and human rights advocates say such abuse is not new. Exploitation has been documented in conflicts from South Sudan to Haiti. “It’s a horrible reality that humanitarian crises make people vulnerable in many ways — increased sexual violence is often a consequence,” said Heather Barr, associate director of the women’s rights division at Human Rights Watch, in comments to AP. “The situation in Gaza today is unspeakable, especially for women and girls.”