Orit Strook, Israel’s Minister of Settlements and National Missions and a member of the far-right Jewish Power party, has been accused of sexual abuse by her daughter, Shoshana Strook. The allegations also name Strook’s husband and one of their sons.
Shoshana made the claims public through a social media post, where she revealed that she had filed a formal complaint in Italy and was seeking justice.
“After a long period of doubt, extreme emotional states, and a lot of guilt, I wanted to share that I experienced sexual abuse by both of my parents and one of my brothers,” she wrote. She also alleged that her parents physically abused her three younger brothers: “After years of beatings and guilt, I finally spoke out. The memories are overwhelming, but I need justice.”
These accusations come as Orit Strook faces criticism for promoting unverified claims that members of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas committed sexual assaults during the October 7 attacks—claims that have been widely disputed and remain unsubstantiated.
Shoshana Strook remains a largely private figure, with little public information available. It is not clear why she chose to file the complaint in Italy.
The Strook family has been involved in controversy before. In 2007, Strook’s son Zviki was reportedly charged with kidnapping and torturing a Palestinian teenager.
Who is Orit Strook?
Born into a Hungarian Jewish family of lawyers, Orit Strook married Avraham Strook, a rabbinical student, and became a prominent figure in the Israeli settler movement. The couple initially moved to the Yamit settlement in the Sinai Peninsula, which was evacuated in 1982 following the peace agreement with Egypt. They later relocated to Hebron, where they continued to live in illegal settlements on occupied Palestinian land.
Strook gained prominence as a leader in Hebron’s settler community and founded an NGO that supported settlements in the occupied West Bank, which she led from 2004 to 2012. Since 2013, she has lived in the Avraham Avinu settlement in Hebron.
As a minister and staunch advocate for Israeli settlements, Strook has supported hardline policies and has stated that Israel’s goals include dismantling Hamas, securing the release of Israeli captives, and eliminating perceived threats from Gaza.
The accusations by her daughter have sent shockwaves through Israeli political circles and beyond, raising serious questions about accountability and justice within the upper ranks of the government.
