Deir al-Balah Council Member Faten Harb: Women Are Among the Hardest Hit by Gaza War

Faten Harb, a member of the Deir al-Balah Municipal Council, said that the war on the Gaza Strip has spared neither people nor places, leaving severe consequences across all segments of society, with women bearing the greatest impact.

In an exclusive statement to Maan, Harb said women in Gaza have endured significant suffering, carrying the pain of repeated displacement and homelessness in shelters and tents, in addition to the lack of privacy, long queues for water, and reliance on communal food kitchens.

Harb, who holds a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in leadership and management, described the war as “without conscience,” stating that women accounted for 60%-70% of those affected by the Israeli war, with violations extending to every aspect of their privacy. She added: “We are demanding a dignified life for women even before the 2023 war.”

Harb said violations during the war affected all aspects of life amid the destruction of the justice system, as judicial buildings and institutions were damaged, making it difficult to resolve family and community disputes.

She added that women’s cases have been increasing, describing them as qualitative rather than quantitative issues. She stressed the need for intervention by community mediators and female community leaders to address women’s concerns, especially family-related problems resulting from repeated displacement, limited resources, and difficulties accessing aid, particularly in the absence of a provider such as a father, husband, or son.

Harb explained that women had an important role in society before the war, but their responsibilities became much heavier during the conflict, especially following the absence of government and judicial institutions. She noted that female community leaders play a significant role in resolving social and family disputes to preserve community stability and social cohesion.

Regarding her own role, Harb said her presence came as a response to women’s needs, given her close connection with them and her understanding of the details of their suffering. She stressed that women’s representation in municipal councils helps amplify their voices and contributes to providing the services they need, especially amid the significant increase in the number of displaced people.

She pointed out that Deir al-Balah had a population of 100,000 before the war, while the city now hosts nearly 300,000 people, the majority of whom are women, who require essential services such as water, sanitation, and other daily needs specific to women. She emphasized that “the presence of women on the municipal council is a strong positive indicator that enables us to serve women.”

Harb also highlighted the major challenges women faced while carrying out their duties, including difficulties moving around due to the lack of transportation, ongoing bombardment, and social attitudes that previously opposed women’s presence in political positions.

Harb concluded by saying that the presence of four women on the Deir al-Balah Municipal Council reflects growing social awareness of the importance of women’s representation and confirms their ability to participate in decision-making and serve the community effectively.