NEXEM KERACA

Gaza- In Palestine, widows have faced many difficulties. Social centers have become shelters for these women facing difficulties. These centers try to solve the problems faced by women and provide financial and physiological support to them.

They are deprived of many rights

Nihal Abu Daqqa, a lawyer of the Al Awda Community Center in Bani Suhaila and a member of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers, drew attention to the problems faced by women, who lost their spouses and said, “Widows are deprived of many of their rights in Gaza. Women are deprived of their right to inherit by the families of their spouses. In Palestine, a widow is normally entitled to half of her deceased spouse's salary but widows are deprived of this right in the Gaza Strip. Their children were before given to the families of their spouses after the deaths of their spouses. But the resolution issued in 2009 gave the right to custody to women.”

It has provided legal support to widows

“Widows face many barriers,” Nihal Abu Daqqa said, “After women lost their spouses, the families of their spouses sue women to control their incomes. We, as the center, do our best to support these women. We have provided legal support to them. We have a Facebook site now to reach women.”

She was subjected to violence by her spouse’s family

Stating that she was subjected to violence by her spouse’s family after the death of her spouse, M.R. said, “I was subjected to insult by them for taking a piece of land. They sued me when I collected some money. I suffered a lot due to their pressure on me.”

She still has problems with her family

After E.X. lost her spouse, she wanted to raise her children but her family objected to her. “My parents put pressure on me to get married again and leave my children. But I didn’t accept what they had asked of me. I still have problems with my parents,” she told us.