Male Victims of Sexual Assault See Surge in Help-Line Calls After Oct. 7
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Helplines for male victims of sexual assault in Israel have seen a significant increase in calls, with a 54% rise in 2025 and an 81% jump over two years. Aid centers link the surge to public exposure following the October 7th attacks and former hostage testimonies. A conference will address the challenges and support needs of male survivors.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Helplines for male sexual assault victims saw a 54% call increase in 2025 and an 81% jump over two years.
- Aid centers attribute the rise in calls to post-Oct. 7 awareness and former hostage testimonies.
- Former hostages' testimonies have encouraged men to report past sexual assaults.
- Male survivors still face significant social barriers like shame and fear of disbelief.
- A conference will address the impact of Oct. 7 on male sexual assault victims.
Calls to helplines for male victims of sexual assault have significantly increased, with a 54% rise in 2025 compared to 2024, and a further 15% increase in the first nine months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. This represents an 81% jump over two years from the first nine months of 2024. Aid centers attribute this surge, in part, to increased public exposure to sexual violence against men since the October 7th Hamas attacks and to the testimonies of former hostages. This heightened awareness has also empowered men who experienced abuse years earlier to recognize their experiences as sexual assault, break their silence, and seek help.
Despite the rise in calls, male survivors of sexual assault continue to face substantial social and cultural barriers, including shame, fear of disbelief, and gender stereotypes that hinder the recognition of their experiences and the request for assistance. In response, the Tel Aviv and Gush Dan Aid Center, the Union of Aid Centers, and the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality are organizing a conference this Thursday. The event will focus on the impact of the October 7th events on male victims of sexual assault, the intersection of past and national trauma, identifying social and professional barriers, and strategies for expanding support and public recognition.
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