What's happened
A humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening as aid groups, including Wefaq, report reduced capacity after the United States cut funding in early 2025 and later funding gaps. The war since Oct 2023 hasdestroyed courts and legal infrastructure, leaving women with limited recourse.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- The combination of war, institutional collapse and aid funding cuts is amplifying hardships for women in Gaza, especially around divorce, child support and custody. Wefaq’s continued operation, albeit at reduced capacity, highlights the fragility of NGO-driven protection systems in conflict zones.
- The funding gap comes as legal infrastructure remains in disarray and displacement rises, which could prolong reliance on ad hoc mediation and informal networks.
- Readers should watch for new humanitarian funding commitments and any moves to rebuild courts or restore legal avenues, which could shift the pace of rights restoration for affected families.
How we got here
Wefaq, a women-led Gaza NGO, has provided legal aid, psychosocial care and humanitarian assistance to about 50,000 people this year. USAID had funded a five-year program worth about $1 million annually but cut its funding in early 2025 as part of a broader U.S. shift. The destruction of Sharia courts and legal archives has left many disputes unresolved and access to rights diminished.
Our analysis
The Independent reports on Raneen and Wefaq’s services and the impact of USAID funding cuts; Al Jazeera provides background on the wider collapse of education and governance in Gaza and Mauritania's reform isn't directly linked but illustrates differing state-led or NGO-led reform stories.
Go deeper
- How is Wefaq responding to funding gaps right now?
- What legal avenues remain for Gaza women seeking child support or custody?
- Are there new funding commitments from international donors to replace USAID support?