The Israel Observatory on Femicide, directed by Prof. Shalva Weil from the Seymour Fox School of Education at the Hebrew University, reports a troubling surge in femicide across Israel, with 32 women killed because they were women since January. The data point to rising firearm-related murders and distinct cultural dynamics influencing the patterns of violence. The Observatory calls on policymakers to act swiftly to prevent further loss of life.
[Hebrew University of Jerusalem]– The Israeli Femicide Observatory at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has released new data revealing a sharp rise in femicide cases across Israel. From January 1 to November 18,
44 women have been murdered, including
32 cases classified as femicide—women killed by men because of their gender. The findings come ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25.
The report shows a
dramatic increase compared to last year, when 37 women were murdered during the same period, of whom 20 were identified as femicide victims.
Key Trends
- Femicide among Jewish women has more than doubled: 19 victims this year compared to 8 last year.
- In the Arab sector, 13 murders were recorded, a slight rise from 11 last year.
- Matricide represents 20% of all femicide cases—six incidents this year, compared to two in 2024.
- Firearms are now the most common murder weapon, with 14 cases, 10 of which were carried out using illegal weapons in the Arab sector, and 3 out of 4 cases usinglicensed firearms in the Jewish sector. Knives were used in 12 murder cases.
The Observatory warns that these escalating trends reflect systemic failures in prevention, oversight, and coordinated intervention.
Call for Urgent Policy Action
The report urges lawmakers to:
- Enact clear legislation recognizing femicide as a distinct criminal offence,
- Establish a national Observatory to coordinate data, prevention efforts, and policy responses,
- Address the proliferation of illegal weapons
- Improve understanding of the different cultural, social, and political dynamics shaping femicide in Israel’s Jewish and Arab communities.
Prof. Shalva Weil, the head of the Israeli Femicide Observatory, calls on policymakers to act urgently to combat this phenomenon: “
The continued rise in femicide demands urgent, comprehensive action. Legal reforms and adoption of the Istanbul Convention should be only the first steps. Israel needs coordinated, systemic solutions that address the roots of this violence before more women lose their lives.” said Prof. Weil.