Dr. Batoul Mujahid Al-Muhaisen, Director of the Princess Basma Centre for Jordanian Women's Studies at Yarmouk University.
When the language of numbers indicates that approximately 35% of Gaza's martyrs are women, that more than 100,000 women have lost their husbands and are supporting their families alone, that more than half a million women are seeking refuge, and that thousands of girls have been left without a brother or father, Or even a sister and mother, and more than 50,000 pregnant women, 6,000 of whom gave birth this month, were denied access to health care. This alone demonstrates that the plight of Gazan women goes beyond all descriptions and assessments, and the humanitarian crisis is no longer only the product of the war. Rather, it has become a label for a difficult situation to resolve.
In this painful reality, it is not easy to limit ourselves to talking about values, humanity, and development, and even about the weakest ways of life in an abstract and general way. The priority should be to talk about the mother who builds homes, the girl who is looking for the future, and the child whose identity and future are lost, and perhaps it is not possible to talk about the efforts that must be made in light of this bitter reality. In the face of a harsh and agonizing silence.
Writing about the difficulties and anguish that Palestinian women face and repeating the scenario will not end the conflict quickly, nor will it create houses, schools, or hospitals, nor will it restore the capacity to handle death, sickness, loss, and poverty. Which such catastrophes produce in the hearts of defenseless Palestinian women in Gaza. What is required today may be for us to be a part of Jordan and its wise Hashemite leadership in defending Palestine and providing humanitarian support to all groups that are exposed to aggressive behavior, apartheid, and genocide, which has become a clear symbol of the practices of the occupation army, through a continuous scientific, research, and humanitarian approach that ensures the continuation of these efforts until the end of the crisis and the establishment of
These practices undermine the values of peace and stability, increasing costs for the entire region, including Gaza, in vital sectors like health, education, and justice. This stifles progress and production, preventing women and society from fully benefiting from economic and social resources.
As a result, a quick and robust reaction to this stage's objectives, as well as progress toward constructing an integrated Arab initiative for violence prevention, starts with the creation of qualitative databases on the quality of life of Palestinian women, particularly in Gaza. And reading the extent of the commitment of international institutions and the international community to confronting violence directed at Palestinian women and even building an Arab system to support Palestinian women and girls cognitively, morally, and materially, so that they can develop the infrastructure of their communities and build a new starting point that ensures improving the type of life they live, and so that we build a foundational role in directing services.
Because Palestinian women are symbols of growth and fortitude, the conflict must not disrupt their economic and political opportunities. Rather, it must strengthen their role as the foundation of a new development, emphasizing the image of the strong Palestinian woman who supports the steadfastness of her people and country and who serves as a source of strength in the face of crises, which is what all institutions operating in Gaza must be built on.
Rather, this must be accompanied by specific media campaigns that convey to the world this beautiful face of the capable woman, the beautiful child, and the distinguished girl who faces wars with patience and aggression while giving, and perhaps I can recall a previous statement by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah: "The reality of the Palestinian child and the Palestinian mother is very painful. There are generations who have not experienced serenity and peace, which is intolerable, and we in Jordan believe that the region cannot enjoy peace and stability until the Palestinian problem is settled." I perceive the royal concern for women and children as a symbol of peace and stability.
The Jordanian support provided by the Hashemite Charitable Organization and our Jordanian Armed Forces to the people of Gaza is another form of support for women and families, as creating a healthy and humane environment and contributing as much as possible to raising the level of confrontation of the crisis for Palestinians on their land is a fundamental axis for declaring the ability to continue and build.
To summarize, I believe that developing a system of social peace in Palestine is first and foremost about women, and that dealing with women requires qualitative efforts that balance their potential to grow with their crucial role in life, especially because Jordan is Palestine's lung. Jordanian women, headed by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, will continue to stand in solidarity with Palestinian women. In fulfillment of His Majesty the King's vision, who continues to protect the lives of our people in Gaza and the human rights of every human being on this part of our occupied land, as well as to address global public opinion to expose the occupation's crimes against the entire Palestinian social component, including women and children.
