Public awareness about sexual violence has indeed increased since October 7, but a hierarchy of suffering has emerged. Wartime sexual violence is rightfully condemned, but abuse that occurs within families, workplaces, and other civilian settings is often marginalized. It is crucial to recognize that complex trauma, such as prolonged sexual abuse, bears similarities to captivity, where victims are controlled by their abuser, with no means of escape. The return of hostages from Gaza is an emotional event, but for many survivors of sexual abuse it also triggers intense anxiety, loss of control, and helplessness.
A study conducted by the ARCCI found that 74% of survivors reported a significant deterioration in their mental health due to the current war. Flashbacks, anxiety, depression, and the unraveling of years of progress in therapy have become daily realities. Not only did the memories resurface, but so did the feeling of being pushed aside. Suddenly, there are “more pressing” traumas, and their suffering is no longer prioritized.
Sexual trauma often remains invisible in Israel and around the world. Survivors must fight for recognition, and in times of war even the small acknowledgment they once received diminishes further. Many survivors have expressed how the state, which has long struggled to address sexual violence, has once again abandoned them. Mental health services have been disrupted, therapists have been drafted into the army, and resources have been redirected to wounded soldiers and terror victims. Once again, survivors of sexual abuse are left to battle their demons alone – just as they did after their initial trauma.
In times of crisis, support networks are critical. But for survivors of sexual violence, such networks are almost nonexistent. Mental health services are overburdened, with insufficient public resources available. Many survivors reported having to halt therapy that had kept them stable due to a lack of available support or financial constraints. The ARCCI study found that 61% of survivors experienced severe sleep disturbances, while 33% reported extreme changes in eating habits—clear indicators of untreated post-trauma.
Since the war began, support hotlines have been flooded with calls from sexual abuse survivors whose experiences echo the state of captivity of those taken hostage. Many survivors of childhood sexual abuse – a form of personal captivity that often remains invisible – spoke of how this war reminded them of their own imprisonment, where no one came to rescue them. “Right here in our own country, there are survivors of captivity who never truly get free,” one caller said.
Under these circumstances, can we even talk about recovery? Mental healthcare must be accessible and subsidized. The government must recognize this population and provide tailored solutions both now and after the war ends. While public attention is understandably focused on the hostages, the wounded, and the survivors of the October 7 massacre, we must not overlook those who, though often unseen, remain a vital part of Israeli society and are equally in need of support.
It is time to break the cycle of silence and neglect. If Israel truly values all its citizens, it must listen, acknowledge, and take action. The government must act now, allocating resources and ensuring that survivors of sexual violence receive the support they deserve – no longer left behind but fully recognized and protected.■
The writer is executive director of the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel. The ARCCI is Israel’s leading advocacy organization dedicated to combating sexual violence.
