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Coronavirus brings more suffering to Gaza’s women

With the suspension of the Sharia courts’ work due to the confinement in the Gaza Strip, many Palestinian women have been struggling to get their rights to custody and alimony, while many have been separated from their children.

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A Palestinian woman wears a mask as a preventive measure against the coronavirus, Rafah border crossing, southern Gaza Strip, March 8, 2020. — REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — A state of emergency for 30 days was initially declared in the Palestinian territories March 5 as per a presidential decree, and was later extended until May 5 as part of measures to stem the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

Consequently, on March 23, the Sharia courts across the Palestinian territories suspended their work in accordance with the decision of the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) Supreme Sharia Judge Mahmoud al-Habbash, which put off several sensitive cases, namely involving custody and women issues.

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