Amid the rubble-strewn streets of Gaza, where the constant drone of warplanes and the ever-present spectre of violence have become a grim reality, 2 women have emerged as symbols of unyielding strength. Ilham and Nasreen, like thousands of Palestinians, are navigating a terrifying landscape where each day is a battle for survival.
Despite these devastating circumstances, women like Ilham and Nasreen continue to demonstrate extraordinary strength. They are among the countless women in Gaza who have become the primary breadwinners and community pillars in the face of unimaginable adversity. Their efforts mirror those of women across conflict zones – from Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Yemen – who, despite the chaos of war, step up to support their families and communities.
On this International Women’s Day, we honour their courage and pay tribute to the countless women in war zones who carry on with unwavering resolve, building strength in the very places meant to break them.
Ilham’s quiet determination
Ilham, 31, works on Islamic Relief’s Orphan Sponsorship Programme in partnership with a local organisation.
The day’s sun filters through a shattered window, illuminating her face as she goes about her daily tasks. Born in northern Gaza, Ilham once lived in a beautiful family home, full of promise and warmth.
“We were happy with our lives until the war came and turned everything upside down,” she recalls. The unprecedented escalation, which began in October 2023, left behind rubble instead of walls, anxiety instead of comfort. “Everything was gone and turned to ashes in a moment; I could not even enjoy my house.”
Ilham’s house was completely destroyed during the conflict, and she was displaced to North Gaza. She returned to her home briefly, but after we collected this story, she was forced to flee again when her area was invaded. Now, she finds herself once more on the move, searching for safety in a landscape where danger lurks around every corner.
“In this war, we went through challenges and difficulties that no one had ever experienced throughout history. The most difficult thing was when the Israeli occupation soldiers attacked us, and we had to leave our homes under bombardment,” she recalls.
Ilham’s world was further rocked by the extreme scarcity of even basic food items. “We lived through a period of famine. There is nothing harsher than when your child wakes up and asks for food, and you do not find anything to feed him.”
Without anyone by her side, the weight of providing for the family falls to Ilham. “Life without my husband is not the same, but today I want to be a source of strength for my children to help them overcome this ordeal.”
The shadow of war stalks Ilham with each step outside her ruined home. “When I go out, I am afraid for myself and my children because we could be bombed at any moment.” Despite the dangers, Ilham continues her work with Islamic Relief’s Orphan Sponsorship Programme, providing emotional and financial support to children who have lost their parents to the conflict.
Her work is not without challenges. The destruction of infrastructure, frequent power outages, and limited resources make it difficult to carry out her duties. “Sometimes, I struggle to reach the families we support because the roads are blocked or too dangerous to travel,” she explains. “But I keep going because these children have no one else. They need us now more than ever.”
Nasreen’s unbreakable spirit
Against a backdrop of tents, Nasreen begins her story. She has been an orphan officer for Islamic Relief for 11 years, dedicating her life to supporting children who have lost their parents due to the ongoing conflict. Currently, she is working with another international organisation, as a Kit Management Worker in the Family Counselling Project. Her role involves ensuring that vulnerable families have access to essential supplies, a critical lifeline in a region where the normalcy of everyday life has been torn apart.
When the escalation began, Nasreen and her family fled their home – which they had spent 6 years building – for Rafah, following evacuation orders. Like many families in Gaza, they faced impossible choices as food shortages grew desperate.
“My husband and I left our children in the care of relatives to search for flour during the flour crisis,” she recalls. Tears fill her eyes when she remembers waiting in line for 4 hours just to buy a loaf of bread.
War isn’t only constant fear; it is also unimaginable loss. Nasreen stands with a solemn expression, recounting the day her brother’s life was taken by a sniper’s bullet. “He went to save someone but was hit by sniper fire and martyred. The person he went to rescue survived.”
Her brother, who had worked in a shoe shop before the war, was known for his kindness and dedication to his family. “He was a simple man, working hard to provide for his children,” Nasreen says, “He loved his job and took pride in making sure people found the right shoes for their needs. He was always helping others, even in his final moments.”
Only days later, tragedy struck again: “My father was martyred on Sunday in the same place. It was a massive shock for me.”
In the wake of her brother’s death, Nasreen found herself stepping into the role of caretaker for his children, who had been left orphaned by the conflict. “My brother’s children are now part of the Islamic Relief Orphan Sponsorship Programme,” she shares. “I am so thankful that they are receiving support through this programme. It gives them a chance to continue their education and have some stability in their lives, even in the midst of all this chaos.”
Despite her grief, Nasreen had to keep working. As an humanitarian worker she plays a vital role in ensuring that children who have lost their parents receive the support they need to survive and thrive. “I speak as a working woman, and I am forced to be a working woman because I am the only one in my family who works.” she explains. Her work involves distributing essential supplies – such as hygiene kits, clothing, and educational materials, to vulnerable families, ensuring they have the basic necessities to endure the harsh realities of life in Gaza.
She describes the daily hardships: “We were forced to ride horse-drawn carts and stand on crowded buses, just to go to work and register orphans for our programmes.”
Despite the dangers of moving through bombed-out streets and the discomfort of overcrowded transportation, Nasreen persists, believing in the critical importance of her work. “These children have lost everything,” she says. “If I don’t help them, who will? They deserve a chance to live with dignity, even in the midst of war.”
War doesn’t just demolish buildings, it dismantles the fabric of everyday life. But in Gaza, women like Ilham and Nasreen refuse to let that be the end of their story. They carry the weight of survival on their shoulders, navigating bombed-out streets for a loaf of bread, shielding their children from the constant thrum of fear, and showing up to work to support others even as they fear for themselves.
Their resilience is not born of choice but of necessity. In the face of captivity, famine, and unbearable loss, they persist, not as victims, but as the backbone of their communities. They are the ones standing in the rubble, holding it all together.
On this International Women’s Day, let us not simply admire the strength of women like Ilham and Nasreen. Let us ask ourselves: If they can stand tall amid war’s relentless destruction, what more can we do to stand with them? Donate to Islamic Relief’s Palestine Emergency Appeal now.
