In recent months, Shoshana had been publicly speaking out about both sexual abuse from her parents and ritual abuse that she said she experienced as a child.
She released multiple social media posts describing abuse from her parents, along with testimonies about being forced to take part in sexual ritual abuse.
“Starting from age two and a half, my parents took me to pedophile ceremonies in which I was programmed and trained using drugs, hypnosis, and sexual abuse,” she said in a February video.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/shoshana-strock-death-abuse-allegations-1785635
Shoshana describes ritual abuse
“When I was 13, my father started pimping me in Tel Aviv, making money off my back. The abuse continued until an older age,” she added.
In another post in January, Shoshana described the ritual abuse and conversion therapy she said she experienced growing up.
“In recent days, memories of the conversion therapy I underwent as part of the sadistic cult I grew up in have been coming back to me again and again,” she wrote, further describing rituals she said she was forced to engage in.
“I experience flashbacks of this over and over again, and my anxiety levels right now about sharing this are extremely high,” she wrote.
Police were reportedly unable to verify Shoshana’s claims regarding the sexual abuse, though the details of the investigation are unclear.
Women’s organizations in the country have called for a more expansive investigation to be carried out, stating that the case was not conducted properly by the police and that Shoshana was not granted adequate protection.
The Bonot Alternativa, an organization for women, called on the government to take action. “We cannot give up on her demand; the duty of the state is now clear: to investigate, examine, and uncover the truth,” the group stated.
“How is it possible that the horrifying accounts of severe ritual abuse did not shake the system and the entire country?!”
“We believed you, and we will always believe you,” the organization stated.
A silent protest was held in memory of Shoshana in the afternoon at Zion Square in Jerusalem’s city center.
Organizers stated ahead of the memorial that they will “demand real change and justice for her, and for all of us.”
They also noted that “police did not carry out the investigation thoroughly and did not provide her protection. Social services did not respond.”
Those attending the gathering in Shoshana’s memory held up signs reading “we believe you, Shoshana.”
“The authorities abandoned Shoshana and continue to abandon children and women in her situation,” those at the protest said.
“We’re here because we want to make sure nothing like this ever happens again,” a woman attending said.
Yael Shitrit, Shoshana’s friend who has also testified as a victim of ritual sexual abuse, demanded that more be done.
“We spoke with her [Shoshana] that morning. She didn’t want to die. She wanted a home and security.”
“If this nation doesn’t wake up, we’re the next in line,” Shitrit added.
Following the announcement of Shoshana’s death, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and ministers expressed support for Strock and the family.
Netanyahu’s office stated that the prime minister spoke with Strock and “received with deep sorrow” the news of her daughter’s passing.
“The prime minister conveyed his heartfelt condolences, in his name and in the name of his wife, and asked to strengthen Minister Strock and her family during this difficult time,” the Prime Minister’s Office added.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer, and Shas Party leader MK Aryeh Deri were among those who offered support and condolences to Strock.
Smotrich added that “anyone who exploits such heartbreak and the most terrible loss in order to attack or incite at moments like these is a vile and despicable person.”