Domestic violence ‘nearly doubled’ since 2023; Israelis in ‘crisis of survival’ warns aid agency
JERUSALEM — Thousands of women in Israel are fighting their own “invisible” battles against domestic abuse, abandonment, and crushing poverty as tensions with Iran continue to boil.
The largest mobilization of army reservists in Israel’s history, escalating poverty and overstretched social services are heaping pressure on families — fueling a humanitarian crisis, and placing many women at risk behind closed doors.
“These women are fighting an invisible war against domestic violence, and they urgently need help,” said Rebekah Orlev of Joseph Project International, a leading humanitarian aid organization in Israel.
Watch Israel’s unfolding humanitarian crisis.
Since the war against Iran-backed terrorists began in 2023, domestic violence cases have nearly doubled, Orlev said. “With families living in close quarters under constant threat, the dangers for women behind closed doors have escalated dramatically,” she said.
The numbers paint a grim picture.
Last year, 36 Israeli women died due to “gender-based violence” — a term used to describe domestic violence that specifically targets women. The Israeli Welfare Ministry recorded 4,565 domestic violence referrals — a staggering increase over the previous year’s 2,760 recorded incidents. Actual numbers could be much higher because many cases go unreported. It’s estimated one in 10 Israelis suffers violence at the hands of a spouse or domestic partner.
‘Not Alone Anymore’
Tamar (name changed for privacy) is one of thousands of Israeli women who’ve suffered since the war started on Oct. 7, 2023. Abandoned by her abusive husband to raise her twin babies alone, Tamar was desperate. Partnering with a local emergency shelter, Joseph Project International, the largest importer of humanitarian aid in Israel, provided practical support, including baby supplies, to help Tamar on the path to recovery.
“She’s not alone anymore,” said Joel Chernoff, the organization’s founder and executive board chairman. “As the Bible says, ‘Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.’
“Compassion has no boundaries.”
The organization comes alongside local agencies and emergency shelters across Israel, helping victims of domestic abuse, trafficking, or abandonment. It reaches out to Jewish, Arab, and Christian families in need, as well as minorities and new immigrants.
Latest surveys show that 2.7 million Israelis — almost 30% of the population — live below the poverty line. Nearly 1.2 million — including more than 627,000 children — face hunger every day, with almost one million more teetering on the edge, according to Israeli nonprofit organization Latet.
With war raging on multiple fronts and many families’ finances at breaking point, “people are traumatized, the needs are growing more urgent, and women are especially vulnerable,” Chernoff said. “Families are being torn apart.”
From a 16,000-square-foot warehouse near Jerusalem, aid teams deliver food, clothing, baby formula, diapers, school supplies and other essential items to families, single mothers, women and children in “a crisis of survival,” he said.
The organization has distributed more than $28 million worth of humanitarian aid since the war against Iran and its proxies began in 2023.
“Our aim is to help more women facing abuse, abandonment, and poverty, as well as their children,” Chernoff said. “We want them to know they’re valued and loved by the God of Israel and the Messiah of Israel.”
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MEDIA INTERVIEWS: To schedule a video or audio interview with Joel Chernoff, contact:
Palmer Holt (704) 662-2569 | [email protected]
Operating across Israel, Joseph Project International is the number one importer of humanitarian aid in Israel, annually serving hundreds of thousands of needy Israelis — Jews, Christians, and Arabs.
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