Michal Sela Forum report: 241 children orphaned by family murders of 88 mothers in Israel since 2020

A report by the Michal Sela Forum reveals 241 children were orphaned after 88 mothers were killed in family homicides between 2020 and 2026 in Israel. The year 2025 saw 51 new orphans, a 112.5% increase from 2024. Four children were killed by their fathers in 2026.

A new report by the Michal Sela Forum reveals that 241 children have been orphaned following the murder of their mother within the family since 2020, including 33 since the beginning of this year. The year 2025 set a negative record with 51 new orphans – a 112.5% increase compared to 24 in 2024. In the first ten months of 2026, four children were murdered by their father, and a fifth child survived an attempted murder by his stepfather. Of the 88 mothers murdered, 52.3% were Jewish and 39.8% were Arab – a proportion higher than their share of the population. Forum founder Lili Ben Ami calls on the government to establish a professional unit to accompany the children and appoint a crime victim officer. The article relies solely on the organization's data and does not include a government response.