Shoshana Strook (; c. 1991/1992 â March 15, 2026) was the daughter of MK Orit Strook and an Israeli citizen who made allegations of ritual child sexual abuse operating through a wide criminal network in Israel. After her claims, Israeli police ordered a media gag order with some outlets claiming that Wikipedia as the only available source for details of her claims.
She advocated for other Israelis to learn more about ritual abuse towards the end of her life. Her death was reported to police by ZAKA, an organization whose cofounder was compared to Jeffrey Epstein, according to the Times of Israel.In addition, the activist Yael Ariel said Strook was "the Israeli Virginia Giuffre". Several notable figures commented on her death including Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, Josh Breiner, and Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu on the impact she had on the nation of Israel.
Shoshana Strook was one of eleven children born to Orit and Avraham Strook. She was raised in the Religious Zionist community and spent much of her youth in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, specifically Hebron. Her mother, Orit Strock, is a leading figure in the Religious Zionist Party (later Otzma Yehudit) and has served as the Minister of Settlements and National Missions.
Strook earned her graduate degree from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Her family claims that she was also diagnosed with schizophrenia. However, activist Yael Ariel stated that the family "invented" the mental health claims. Ariel adds that Strook was âÂÂincredibly intelligent, with a MasterâÂÂs degree in psychology.âÂÂ
In March 2025, Shoshana Strook initially submitted criminal allegations in private to Israeli police, which prompted authorities to issue a gag order. She said in the initial disclosure that someone had access to child sexual abuse videos of her. She claims that the woman offering to publish those videos was a part of a "criminal enterprise". Reports also indicate that Strook filed a police complaint in Italy seeking relief and protection from the threats linked to her family.
Two weeks after her disclosure to Israeli police, Strook began a series of public social media and video testimonies. In her posts, she alleged that she had been subjected to severe sexual, physical, and psychological abuse by her parents and one of her brothers beginning at the age of two. Her brother was already convicted of abuse of another minor, prior to her initial public allegations.
At the age of 13, Strook claimed that her father "sold" her to Tel Aviv. She also claimed that she was forced to participate in conversion therapy and called her surroundings a "sadistic cult."
Her family claims that prior to these revelations, she was also abused in Australia by a Japanese drug dealer.
Due to StrookâÂÂs disclosure videos being "widely circulated," there was a trending hashtag in Hebrew, asking: âÂÂWhere is Netanyahu? Where are the peopleâÂÂs representatives? A girl is crying out for help publicly â and no one is responding?â Shoshana's friend, Yael Shitrit confirmed ritual sexual abuse also happened to her, and Strook believes that the incidents were filmed. Bonot Alternativa has urged the state police "to investigate, examine and uncover the truth."
Following Strook's commentary on alleged sexual abuse, an investigative report was released by journalist Noam Barkan. Barkan was able to identify several women claiming similar ritual abuse and some rabbis' names were mentioned repeatedly as possible abusers. Upon the publication of BarkamâÂÂs piece, Strook wrote to her followers, âÂÂI would appreciate the publicâÂÂs help in spreading this to every possible source, and of course I will contact the police directly todayâÂÂ.
After StrookâÂÂs high-profile social media posts and the investigative journalist piece, MK Pnina Tamano-Shata organized for the women to speak about their alleged experiences at the Knesset. Strook attended Knesset with other alleged victims, but she was unable to participate due to a gag order. After the initial Knesset testimony, MK Tamano-Shata encouraged that the investigation be moved to the Lahav 433 National Crime Unit â which specializes in sexual offenses involving minors and digital exploitation. ô Strook's initial complaint to Israeli police was subsequently submitted to this unit.
The Times of Israel said there was a gag order involving a minister and details could be obtained through a ministerâÂÂs Wikipedia page. The outlet said it was âÂÂone of the most sweeping gag orders in recent memoryâ and that Israeli press are "barred from naming those involved or reporting on the details of the investigation." Critics claim that the gag order prevents Israeli media from fully reporting on her claims.
While the outlet Haaretz challenged the gag order in court, the judge upheld the order to protect the individuals involved. A reporter from the outlet, Josh Breiner has said, "As far as I could check, the police investigated the claims and found no foundation for them... As I understand it, the complaint was neither coherent nor clear, and could not be anchored to any specific timeline". Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu also rejected her allegations that ritual sexual abuse occurs in Israel. Rabbi Eliyahu said, âÂÂIn all the cases we have handled, there has not been a single instance of evidence or serious proof regarding ritual sexual abuse by rabbis or public figures against women.âÂÂ
However, Activist Yael Ariel refuted claims of inconsistent testimony. Ariel said, "You were lucid and honest, and the things you told matched perfectly with the testimonies of other victims and my own memories. We were harmed in the same network, and you were the witness who gave voice to my own story, but with far more courage to speak in detail."
On March 6, 2026, Strook launched a crowdfunding campaign that raised âª59,166 (about 18,815 USD in March 2026). She said her story is similar to up to thousands of others in Israel. She added, âÂÂYour support helps bring comfort and justice to all survivors.â She also cited to her supporters that they could find out more about this issue by reading BarkamâÂÂs article or by supporting an organization called Ritual Abuse.
Eight days after her crowdfunding campaign advocating for Israelis to gain awareness of ritual abuse, Shoshana Strook was found dead at her residence in northern Israel on March 14, 2026. The volunteer organization ZAKA was the group that initially informed the authorities of her death. The organization said it transferred her body for an autopsy at the forensic medicine institute, adding that the results "do not indicate suspicions of criminal activity." ZAKAâÂÂs cofounder Yehuda Meshi Zahav was previously charged with child sexual abuse and he was compared to Jeffrey Epstein, according to the Times of Israel. Allegedly, Meshi-Zahav created an organization with âÂÂlong-term institutional complicity â a pattern of systemic cover-up and willful ignorance.â The Epstein files do reference ZAKA in relation to an underage victim. The files on the DOJ site redacted the ZAKA reference, but an earlier version was posted on JMail prior to the redaction. The emails are redacted individuals discussing FBI agents meeting an alleged victim. They discuss plans for the victim including having her âÂÂdo zaka.âÂÂ
Immediately prior to her death, her mother Orit Strook claims to have made a secret trip in an attempt to help her. The Israeli police opened a formal investigation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement saying that he "received with deep sadness" the news of Strook's death. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that exploiting such a loss was 'vile and despicable'.
A silent protest was also organized at Zion Square in central Jerusalem after her death. Protestors held signs reading âÂÂWe believe you, Shoshanaâ and called for change. âÂÂThe authorities abandoned Shoshana and continue to abandon children and women in her situation,â participants said during the event. Yael Shitrit commented, âÂÂshe didn't want to die. She wanted a home and securityâÂÂ.
Activist Yael Ariel called Strook "the Israeli Virginia Giuffre". She also added to other voices saying, "on Friday you were lucid and vital, and you knew you wanted treatment and support. You wanted to live; you said it out loud, and the world saw and heard. Thank you for the unimaginable courage to let such a clear and brave voice be heard".