Human rights organizations in Gaza say up to 60,000 women are vulnerable, with reports indicating a rise in child marriages and pregnancies. A male Gazan told the Daily Mail that he found a widow being molested inside a tent by Hamas members and was warned to stay silent. Another Gazan man said a female neighbor was blackmailed by a Hamas charity organization to prostitute herself in exchange for a food parcel, aid voucher, or 100 shekels. A man identifying as being in the Qassam Brigades confirmed that some Qassam members were taking advantage of widows and was ordered to keep it quiet.
Investigators in Gaza report that children are being raped and then blackmailed into joining Hamas or having their sexual abuse made public. A nine-year-old boy described being sexually abused by a Sheikh in a mosque restroom. A 42-year-old father said his son was raped by the head Imam at a mosque in Khan Younes, and when confronted, the Imam threatened to have the Qassam Brigades shoot him and claim he was an Israeli collaborator. Qassam members later arrived at the father's home at night and threatened to shoot him and his family if he spoke out. A 39-year-old father from Deir al-Balah said his son was molested by an Imam, and when he presented proof to Hamas security, they forced him to withdraw charges by threatening to frame him as an Israeli collaborator.
If you utter another word, we'll shoot you in the legs and beat you to death – you and your family – we'll wipe you off the face of the earth.