LGBTQ umbrella group says Beersheba woman in serious condition was stabbed for being trans

The Aguda LGBTQ umbrella organization confirms earlier reporting that a woman stabbed in Beersheba last night is transgender, and says the stabbing, which left her with serious wounds and unconscious, was a hate crime.

“A trans woman is fighting for her life after being stabbed purely because of who she is. Let that sink in,” says the Aguda in a press release.

“Unfortunately, this is not the first time that the trans community, and particularly trans women, are attacked on the streets,” says the Aguda.

Citing its last annual report on anti-LGBTQ sentiment, which was published in May and refers to 2024 data, the Aguda says that while trans people comprise 15% of Israel’s LGBTQ community, they were targeted in 43% of attacks reported last year.

“We will not rest until the abandonment ends, safety returns to the streets and the security of all LGBTQ people is guaranteed across the country,” says the Aguda.

In Beersheba specifically, the organization notes that there have been numerous cases of pride flags being vandalized and burned over the past few months, including ahead of the southern city’s Pride Parade in August.

“Just as we warned — what begins with incitement and assaults on community symbols, without a proper [official] response and deterrence, quickly leads to assaults on people,” the Aguda says.

i24 News reported last night that the stabbing victim was an Arab transgender woman. Police were reportedly checking the possibility that she was stabbed in a hate crime or by a relative.

However, the Aguda says that as far as it knows, a suspect apprehended in the case is unrelated and unknown to the victim.

The Aguda statement doesn’t specify the victim’s nationality, but it thanks Beit el-Meem — a Haifa-based Arab LGBTQ group affiliated with the Aguda — for being in contact with the victim and police. The statement also thanks the LGBTQ Open House in Beersheba and the organization Transiot Israel (Israeli trans women) for their help.

Charlie Summers contributed to this report.