Rise in Child Marriages in Gaza Amidst Ongoing Conflict

Majda lives in Gaza, where the ongoing conflict has taken a heavy toll on her family. Her husband and eldest son were killed by Israeli airstrikes, leaving her in destitution. She and her children live in a makeshift tent plagued by rats and sewage, struggling to survive. Fearing for her daughters’ safety in the crowded camp, Majda made a decision she now regrets: marrying her young daughters off to men who promised care and security.

“I thought I was protecting them,” she expressed. “Fear overwhelmed me.” The ongoing conflict in Gaza has led to an increase in child marriages. Poverty and displacement have driven some parents to marry their daughters off, seeking financial security. This situation often results in a loss of childhood and dangerous pregnancies for the young girls involved.

Before the war, rates of child marriage in Gaza were gradually declining. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, 17.8% of marriages in 2022 involved girls under 18, a drop from over 22% in 2015.

The legal age for marriage in Gaza stands at 17, with certain exceptions. However, recent conflict-driven displacement has reversed the declining trend. The Supreme Shariah Court in Gaza recorded 20.6% of marriages in 2024 and 2025 involved girls under 18, including 627 marriages of girls under 15.

Experts suggest this rate may be higher, as many marriages went undocumented amidst the chaos. According to Amal Siyam from the Women’s Affairs Center in Gaza, war-induced hardships have compelled parents to consider early marriage for their daughters.

Majda, having married at 14 herself, did not want a similar fate for her daughters. Yet, familial and societal pressures led her to give in. The daughters experienced horrific abuse, debunking any hopes of protection and safety. Majda’s elder daughter faced violent treatment from her husband, resulting in severe trauma and sexual violence. Her younger daughter suffered similarly.

The devastation of conflict has pushed some families to view marriage as a means to lessen their financial burdens. Girls, too, hope marriage offers some normalcy and aid relief. However, this comes at a high cost to their health and future.

Younger brides often face increased vulnerability to violence, including abuse from in-laws. The Israeli-occupied West Bank implemented a minimum marriage age of 18, which has significantly reduced early marriage rates to around 5%.

The pressure on girls like Majda’s daughters continues. Divorce, albeit possible, is costly and stigmatized, complicating their situations. Majda ultimately agreed under pressure to send her daughters back to their husbands in Gaza City.

“They did not want to return,” Majda mourned. “They were crying.”

The emotional and physical toll on these girls is immense, highlighting a disturbing trend exacerbated by ongoing conflict.