Feminism, my dear feminists, is at a crossroads because of Gaza. Because a ceasefire is a respite for Gazans and an opportunity for us to take stock.

The silence, and in some cases the outright support for the genocide by some Western feminists in the face of such unprecedented violence, raises questions about the very basis of the ideology.

The genocide has brought to the fore the glaring contradiction between seeking women's equality as a basic feminist principle while adopting silence on the besieged, starved, dying women of Gaza. It has picked holes in the argument that ending violence against women is a priority to achieving women's empowerment while a record number of women in Gaza are killed either by powerful Israeli bombs, man-made famine or intentional destruction of hospitals and basic facilities during child birth.

Since Israel's military re-entry into Gaza — they have previously attacked Gaza in 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2021 — we have witnessed one of the most brutal and deadliest assaults in recent history. A former chief of staff of the Israeli army says more than 200,000 Palestinians have been killed or wounded since Israel's genocide began. Leaked Israeli data reveals 80% of those killed are civilians, of which 70% are women and children.

Maternal and child health infrastructure is nearly obliterated, with over 84% of health facilities damaged. Pregnant women are undergoing C-sections without anaesthetic and infant and maternal mortality rates have soared. Pregnant women face malnutrition, and the lack of the most basic........

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