Child abuse among displaced families from northern Israel is on the rise

According to ELI (Israeli Association for Child Protection), there has been a worrying increase in cases of child abuse in Israel in recent years, due to societal challenges and increasing awareness.

The tragic events of October 7 have exacerbated the trauma and insecurity felt across the country, particularly among children. As one of the most vulnerable groups in society, children often find it difficult to put their experiences of abuse into words because they are burdened with shame or fear. For many, the violence and insecurity in their communities exacerbates the abuse they suffer in silence.

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Especially in the northern regions of Israel, families have been forced to leave their homes and often have to live in cramped hotel rooms without much support. Many parents have lost their jobs and stability and are now under enormous psychological and financial pressure. In some cases, this has led to behavior that would have been unthinkable before, including violence toward their children.

Eran Zimrin, CEO of ELI, highlights how the stresses of displacement and war have exacerbated family tensions: “Many of the families evacuated to hotels in the south or center of the country are struggling to adapt. Living in a room with no certainty about the future, no work and under the emotional strain of war is immense. Unfortunately, in some cases this has led to cases of parental violence.”

In one of these cases, hotel staff alerted ELI about a 14-year-old girl wandering around alone. Her parents were found drunk in their room. The girl's situation shows how urgently ELI's services are needed, especially in times of crisis.

CEO Eran Zimrin (Photo credit: REUVEN KAPUCHINSKI)

Zimrin stresses that such reports have become more frequent since the war began, as the destruction of family life, the emotional strain of the conflict and financial hardship create conditions in which normal, loving parents can lose control. This underscores the urgent need for intervention and support for both the children and their parents to prevent these situations from developing into long-term trauma.

In response to the increasing number of cases, ELI developed a school-based child abuse education and prevention program that reaches children directly in their learning environment.

This program is more important than ever. It is designed to identify and prevent abuse. It equips children, educators and families with the tools necessary to recognize abuse, ask for help and intervene. At its core, it is an innovative form of educational entertainment, or “edutainment,” that teaches children about the dangers of abuse through plays and musicals. For younger children, the focus is on understanding body boundaries, while older students learn about cyberbullying and safe internet use.

Help the Israeli children affected by October 7. Support ELI>>

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Through these programs, ELI raises awareness among children and their communities and encourages them to come forward when they need help. Zimrin stresses: “The problem is always there, and in recent years awareness has increased, which directly translates into more cases being treated than before.” But raising awareness is only the first step. The challenge is to provide effective therapeutic interventions, especially for children who have already experienced abuse.

ELI's school-based program is comprehensive and offers training for school professionals, interviews with children led by social workers or counselors, and therapeutic support for those identified as victims of abuse.

“We received a personal request from a mayor who was smart enough to address the problem – unlike others who simply do not want to acknowledge it,” says Zimrin. “If the local authorities are willing to address the problem, we have more access to therapy rooms. In one of these cities, we increased our offer from two to five therapy rooms, simply because the local authorities were aware of this and took responsibility.”

This support is important to reach children who would otherwise be overlooked. Zimrin explains: “When we make an appointment, [with the children]they just might not show up, so we adapted to reach them. That's how the therapy takes place, with the added benefit of getting to know their environment better.”

ELI's nearly 45 years of experience show that as awareness increases, more children are identified and more cases are treated. This requires a strong therapeutic response, and ELI is uniquely positioned to provide it. Their holistic approach includes therapy not only for the child, but also for the entire family, helping to break the cycle of intergenerational abuse. “Usually we're dealing with intergenerational cycles of violence. We show them a different path and get the train back on the right track,” Zimrin says.

Last summer, thanks to support from the Jewish Agency, ELI was able to expand its program to thousands of children in reception centers in the north, south and Jerusalem, including many Ethiopian children. At a time of social unrest, ELI's work is more important than ever, offering children and communities a path to safety, healing and a future free from abuse.

The trauma endured by Israeli children following the tragic events of October 7 is unimaginable, and their silent suffering cannot be overlooked. These vulnerable children, many of whom live in unstable and overcrowded conditions, are in desperate need of help. ELI is on the front lines, providing critical support through therapy, education and prevention programs that reach children in schools, communities and even displaced families. But they cannot do it alone. Your support can make the difference between trauma and healing. Stand by these children, help break the cycle of abuse, and give them hope for a better future. Donate to ELI today and be a lifeline to those who need it most.

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