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Report Reveals Sharp Rise in Orphans Due to Domestic Homicides
A new report by the Michal Sela Forum, released on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, reveals that 241 children in Israel became orphans between 2020 and November 8, 2026, after 88 mothers were murdered in domestic violence incidents. The report, titled "Father Murdered Mother," was published to coincide with the International Month for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
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What happened
- 01A Michal Sela Forum report reveals 241 Israeli children were orphaned by domestic homicides of 88 mothers between 2020 and November 2026.
- 02The year 2025 saw a record 51 new orphans from family murders, a 112.5% increase compared to 24 orphans in 2024.
- 03By the first ten months of 2026, an additional 33 children in Israel had been orphaned due to domestic violence.
- 04Twelve children were murdered and two survived attempted murders within their families between 2020 and 2026.
- 05Four children were killed by their fathers in early 2026, double the annual average, including victims killed by suffocation and shooting.
- 06Of the murdered mothers, over half were from the Jewish community and 39.8% were from the Arab community.
- 07Michal Sela Forum founder Lili Ben Ami criticized the lack of official state data and called for a dedicated government support system.
The year 2025 marked a peak with 51 new orphans, representing a 112.5% increase from 2024, when 24 children were orphaned. By early November 2026, an additional 33 children had been orphaned. The report also notes that over half of the murdered mothers were from the Jewish community, while 39.8% were from the Arab community.
In addition to the rise in orphans, the report highlights a disturbing escalation in child homicides within families. Between 2020 and 2026, 12 children were murdered within their families, and two attempted murders occurred. In the first ten months of 2026 alone, four children were killed by their fathers, which is double the annual average. The victims included a seven-week-old infant and a three-year-old boy who were suffocated, and a six-year-old boy and a nine-year-old girl who were shot.
Lili Ben Ami, the founder of the Michal Sela Forum, criticized the lack of state support and the absence of an official database for these children, whom she described as a "transparent front." The forum is calling on the government to establish a professional support system and appoint a dedicated official to assist the affected families.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
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