Standing with Feminist Leaders in Palestine in Their Fight for Peace and Security

Today, Global Fund for Women and our partners celebrate the announcement of a ceasefire, planned to take effect on Sunday, January 19th. 

“We will believe when the ceasefire is fully realized. These remaining hours feel heavier than the year and four months that preceded them. We pray for the safety of our people—until the ceasefire, and beyond.”

– Palestinian grantee partner on January 15, 2024

Over the past year, we have witnessed abhorrent civilian violence and destruction across Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan, Israel, and beyond. In Palestine, amid this devastation, our partners adapted to respond to their communities' urgent needs in times of profound uncertainty and loss. They provided essential resources—food, water, and shelter—to medical staff, patients, and displaced families, while activating free helplines for psychosocial support and first aid to protect everyone from bombs and forced hunger. 

Feminist leaders have long been at the forefront of crisis response, serving as frontline responders, unpaid caregivers, and community mobilizers. Despite their pivotal role in addressing urgent needs, mainstream humanitarian efforts frequently overlook and underfund them. This oversight represents a significant missed opportunity: grassroots leaders bring localized knowledge, deep community networks, and an intersectional perspective crucial for effective and equitable crisis response. Providing them with core, long-term resources not only addresses an ongoing injustice but also strengthens the overall impact and reach of humanitarian initiatives. 

Our support goes beyond restoring what was lost – but to support feminist leaders who are reimagining and building a just, sustainable future. This commitment drives our response today. Our partners are using funds to address urgent and immediate needs, including food, hygiene products, shelter, and psychosocial support. We will remain in close contact, listening to their priorities and providing flexible funds.  

“Your solidarity through this calamity has been a source of strength, standing with us as we endure and greet the light of this new morning with hope, for those of us who are alive. In the fleeting joy of escaping death, our community in Gaza is now overwhelmed by the enormity of their loss. As they prepare to return to their shattered homes and memories, they search for the remains of their relatives' bodies to honor and bury them. Deep sorrow consumes us all, and waves of tears are flowing.”

 

– Palestinian grantee partner on January 15, 2024

Support Feminist Crisis Response

Women, girls, and all historically marginalized people are hit hardest by conflicts and natural disasters. Our Crisis Fund has supported partners during health crises, including COVID-19; political upheavals; and in the wake of natural disasters.