Palestinian women in Gaza face legal hurdles in divorce struggles

What the report says

Palestinian women in Gaza are increasingly turning to faster divorce options as war-related disruption slows the territory’s religious courts and makes it harder to secure full legal rights, according to Al Jazeera. The article focuses on women such as Sohair al-Bardoni, 30, and Suad al-Naami, 22, who said they chose khulu, a wife-initiated divorce that can require giving up financial claims, rather than wait through lengthy court proceedings.

Al-Bardoni, who was displaced to Nuseirat camp while caring for her children, said she began legal proceedings in February 2025 but faced delays tied to the war. To end the marriage more quickly, she returned her dowry and gave up support she might otherwise have received. Al-Naami described a similar decision after a short marriage, saying displacement and life in a tent made the situation harder.

The report says Gaza’s legal system has been strained by damage to court buildings, staff shortages, power cuts and missing records. A Gaza judicial official said courts handled thousands of divorce cases since the war began in October 2023, while a lawyer said delayed hearings, lost documents and suspended enforcement have complicated custody, maintenance and property claims. The issue matters because the delays can leave women and children in legal limbo and reduce access to money or custody decisions they may be entitled to.