CIVICUS discusses the situation in Palestine, the impacts on women and girls and the prospects for a ceasefire with Taheer Araj, executive director of the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH). Founded in 1998, MIFTAH is an independent Palestinian civil society organisation that promotes democracy and dialogue.
The genocide unleashed after 7 October 2023 has disproportionately affected Palestinian women, who face the effects of extreme violence and displacement as well as gendered forms of violence, including sexual violence. To achieve sustainable peace, the international community must implement a ceasefire, uphold the decisions of the International Court of Justice, hold those responsible for atrocities accountable and ensure the active participation of women in the peace process.