In the United Nation's annual Commission on the Status of Women report, out of the 193 United Nation member states, only Israel was condemned for violating women's rights.
The report, titled the "Situation of and assistance to Palestinian women," criticizes Israel for the ongoing illegal occupation of Palestinian territories and says that Israel's physical and administrative restrictions to the territories "continue to impede humanitarian access" to some of the most vulnerable communities.
"The conflict has had a devastating impact on women and their families, further increasing vulnerability and insecurity. As the primary caregivers in Gaza, women are faced with acute challenges in coping with the large number of families with members killed or injured, the long-term impact of damaged infrastructure and reduced services," the report said. "Displacement proved especially difficult for women and girls with reports of sexual harassment and gender-based violence in shelters, limited privacy, compromised dignity and reduced access to hygiene. Psychosocial distress levels, already high among the Gaza population, have worsened significantly as a result of the conflict and will require specialized support, specifically for children and women."
The report added that food insecurity has increased as a result of the conflict and high levels of displacement, which the U.N. expects will "contribute to a deterioration of the nutritional state of women and children."
Gaza's sole water aquifer will become unstable as soon as 2016, and the damage will be irreversible by 2020, the report said, adding that "95 percent of water from the aquifer is unfit for human consumption."
Women also continue to face "significant challenges" in the job market, with only a 16 percent labor force participation rate in Gaza and an 18 percent rate in the West Bank, compared to a 65.8 percent and 71.3 percent respective rate for men.
Limited access to health care and drug and medical shortages are other issues of concern. The crisis has left health care centers damaged and without sufficient equipment, leaving providers unable to assist women and girls requiring sexual and reproductive heath services.
"As a result of the destruction to homes and the shelter crisis, it is expected that about 3,000 displaced pregnant women will continue to suffer from lack of access to basic services and special dietary and vitamin supplements," the report said. "During the crisis, more than 45,000 pregnant women were deprived of access to basic reproductive health services, and around 5,000 deliveries took place in extremely poor conditions."
Attempts by women to seek redress are hampered by a weak rule of law and "existing legal frameworks ... that are outdated and discriminate against women, particularly in matters of divorce and child custody."
Israeli officials called the report "another testimony to the hypocrisy of UN members," according to Ynetnews.
Some question why Israel was singled out over other countries known to treat women extremely poorly, like Saudi Arabia, where women are denied basic rights under strict Islamic law.
Israeli envoy Ron Prosor defended Israel's treatment of women to the U.N. commission.
"I am proud to say that when it comes to women's rights, Israel is leading by example. We understand that empowered women are the foundation of thriving societies," Prosor said, reported Ynetnews.
"Our 1948 Declaration of Independence - which incidentally, was signed by two women - promises equality to all our citizens. In recent years, Israel welcomed its first female Major General, elected a female chairman to our federal bank, and earlier this year, Miriam Naor was appointed President of Israel's Supreme Court - the second woman to earn this distinction."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu broke from previous promises and vowed during his re-election campaign to oppose an independent Palestinian state, but backtracked just days later.
"I don't want a one-state solution, I want a sustainable, peaceful two-state solution, but for that circumstances have to change. And every territory that is vacated in the Middle East is taken up by Islamist forces," Netanyahu said, according to Al Jazeera.
"You can't impose peace. And in any case, if you want to get peace, you've got to get the Palestinian leadership to abandon their pact with Hamas and engage in genuine negotiations with Israel for an achievable peace."
