End Violence against Palestinian Women in Israel

Dear friends,

Thank you for your continued support for Kayan and our efforts to fight gender-based violence against Palestinian women. 

In this report, we will focus on the key findings of the annual report of Kayan's emergency hotline, which highlighted important issues such as gaps in protection for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) and their urgent needs. The report also highlights that there is an urgent call for stronger and sustainable support for these survivors and for long-term protection networks for all. Please find it attached for more information.

In the past year, the emergency hotline has received almost 600 calls. This number is concerning as it reflects the increase in GBV against Palestinian women, and the lack of reporting channels they have for seeking help, psychological or legal. The calls received reflected clear repeated patterns that were shared among the majority of survivors.

One of the most common patterns was the delay in seeking help. Many of the women who contacted the hotline had only done so after enduring violence for a long time. They often try to remain silent and cope alone before reaching out. The most common reason for doing so was that they assumed they are protecting their families. Fear of stigma, shame, and social consequences played a major role. Many women were worried that they would be damaging their family’s reputation, losing their relationships, or getting blamed by society for what they went through. In several cases, survivors struggled to even recognize what happened to them as violence, especially when abuse occurred within marriage or intimate relationships. The hotline therefore becomes the first safe place where women can describe their experience as abuse and feel believed.

Another pattern highlighted in the report was that a significant number of women chose not to report to the police, because many did not believe that reporting will lead to real protection. A common fear among the survivors was that by filing a complaint, the violence will escalate rather than stop. Some have come to this conclusion after having experienced or heard of cases where complaints were not followed up properly or where protection orders were temporary and ineffective. Others reported that they fear being blamed or not believed. In some situations, women were left without follow-up support after initial interventions. However, the most intimidating reason why women hesitate to contact the police is that there is clear police discrimination and violence against Palestinians, which has significantly worsened since October 7^th 2023. These discriminatory acts of violence include blackmail of the survivors when submitting police reports and threatening them to publicize their cases. This gap between legal frameworks and lived reality creates deep mistrust and leaves survivors relying heavily on the hotline as their only safe space.

The last pattern observed was that for many women, economic dependence was a major barrier. These women suffered from the financial control of their husbands or family members, were not allowed to work, or were threatened with losing financial means. This made it extremely difficult for them to leave their abusive relationships or families. Some survivors also faced fragile legal situations related to residency status or civil documentation, so reporting violence would feel like a legal risk to themselves rather than a protective measure. Fear of losing custody of children, fear of authorities, and fear of deportation or legal consequences prevent many from seeking formal help as well. However, financial insecurity remained the strongest factor keeping women trapped in violent and unsafe situations. This highlights the necessity of emergency financial assistance, legal aid, and economic empowerment of women to provide them with real options for safety.

The report also finds that in the past year, the hotline has seen a concerning rise in cases of sexual violence committed by individuals in positions of authority, such as medical professionals, therapists, spiritual advisors, and supervisors. In these cases, abuse is often disguised as professional conduct, which causes confusion and self-doubt. Survivors often question their own interpretation of events, especially when the perpetrator has social respect and influence. Many women delayed seeking help because they fear that they will face retaliation or professional damage. These cases show the need for stronger accountability mechanisms, safe and independent complaint systems, and specialized legal and psychological support for survivors facing powerful perpetrators.

The hotline has become more than a service. For many women, it is the first and sometimes only place where they can speak safely and confidentially. It provides emotional validation, basic legal information, risk assessment, and referrals. 

For Kayan to maintain and expand its hotline capacity, ensure trained trauma-informed staff, and provide long-term case management, sustained and unconditional donor support is vital. This includes increased investment in legal aid, especially in complex residency and custody cases, emergency financial assistance and economic empowerment initiative. With your support, Kayan will be able to continue to advocate for longer-term protection and provide Palestinian women with a safe space.

With love,

Nisreen Tabari

General Director

• Kayan Support and Emergency Unit - Annual Report (PDF)