"I Thought He Cared for Me": The Signs That Turned into a Life of Violence, and the Cry for Change

Five women have been murdered since the beginning of October, and in some cases their children witnessed the horror. Galit, a mother of four who escaped a violent relationship, describes the isolation, control, and fear that remained even after she left. Women's organizations warn of the lack of resources: "Civil society organizations are doing the government's work."

Five women have been murdered since the beginning of October 2026, and in some cases their children witnessed the murders. Galit (a pseudonym), a mother of four who escaped a violent relationship, describes the isolation, control, and fear that remained even after she left. Women's organizations warn of the lack of government resources: "Civil society organizations are doing the government's work," says Tal Hochman, executive director of the Women's Lobby. Rivka Neumann, director of the Department for the Advancement of Women's Status at WIZO, argues that the welfare sector is in continuous collapse due to the lack of attention from the minister who holds additional portfolios. According to the Women's Lobby, the number of women murdered on gender-related grounds rose from 28 in 2023 to 30 in 2024 and to 36 in 2025, a year-over-year increase of about 26%.