Gaza women study self-defense against domestic violence
Faten al-Naqla, a Gaza-based kung fu instructor, took it upon herself to train women in self-defense amid the rise of women’s deaths at the hands of their husbands.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Years ago, Faten al-Naqla, chair of the Women's Board of Directors of the Palestinian Wushu Kung Fu Federation, received intensive kung fu training from her husband and trainer, Sameh al-Naqla, to gain the confidence and ability to defend herself.
In light of the increasing number of deaths among women following severe beatings by their husbands in the Gaza Strip, Naqla started thinking about training other women to defend themselves.
According to 2021 data from the Institute for Palestine Studies, social violence in Gaza reached 41% in 2019, compared to 20% in the West Bank. With regard to women who have been subjected to spousal violence, psychological violence reached 76%, physical violence 34% and sexual violence 14%.
Most recently, on Feb. 19, a 31-year-old woman from Gaza City was beaten to death by her husband. This prompted Naqla to initiate the kung fu self-defense training, calling on all Gazan women to head to Deir al-Balah beach in the central Gaza Strip, where she gives the classes.
