Breaking the Silence: Israeli Women Unite for Palestinian Lives
A quiet feminist movement born in a chat group becomes a powerful weekly protest challenging Israel’s war narrative.
Watan-At a time when the Israeli government insists on continuing its war against the Gaza Strip, and amid official Arab silence and international complicity, a surprising movement emerged in the heart of Tel Aviv — but not from the usual political protesters. This time, it was an Israeli feminist movement that quietly began… in a WhatsApp group.
The story began when a group of women — lawyers, community activists, and psychologists — created a communication channel after the war on Gaza resumed in March 2025. Deeply affected by images of the victims, especially children, they decided to break the cycle of silence and fear dominating Israeli society.
Initially, the group included only 10 women, but within weeks, it grew to more than 200 participants. They did not come out with political slogans but carried photos of Palestinian children killed in the bombings and lit “Shiva” candles used in Jewish mourning rituals — a gesture rich in symbolism and profound human empathy.
🔴حكاية جروب الواتساب الذي قلب الموازين.. جدل في #إسرائيل بعد ظهور حركة نسائية تتظاهر تضامنًا مع الفلسطينيين وللمطالبة بوقف الحرب على القطاع👇 pic.twitter.com/iozszpOxU4
— وطن. يغرد خارج السرب (@watanserb_news) April 23, 2025
WhatsApp to Vigil: Feminist Voices Defy Silence
One participant, lawyer Amit Shilo, said: “In the past, talking about the oppression of Palestinians was seen as betrayal. But these images moved something inside people… they started seeing humans on the other side.”
The feminist protests evolved into weekly silent vigils held in key public squares, combining moral shock with human awareness — and began to worry Netanyahu’s government, especially as they gained traction in media and online.
Despite some participants facing direct threats and media smear campaigns, the movement continues to grow, breaking the barrier of fear. The women are no longer silent — and the protests are no longer limited to prisoner issues.
It’s the story of a WhatsApp group that only meant to express a feeling… but turned into a silent feminist movement shaking the core of the Zionist narrative.
