Hundreds of Arab-Palestinian women citizens of Israel marched on Thursday, September 26, in Haifa, Nazareth, Jaffa, Tayibe and Arrabah protesting the murder of Arab women, while similar marches took place in nearly a dozen other cities in the occupied West Bank, the Gaza Strip and abroad, including occupied East Jerusalem, Beirut and Berlin. Among the protesters were members of Hadash, Communist Party of Israel and Young Communist Guard activists.

Palestinian women demonstrate against feminicide along Salah ad-Din Street in occupied East Jerusalem – The second sign from the right reads: “We’re coming out because our spirit has given out”; and that in the center reads: “Let’s build freedom, let’s build a return.”(Photo: Al Quds)

The death of Israa Ghrayeb, a 21-year-old from Bethlehem, who was allegedly murdered by family members in late August, sparked the latest wave of protests. The demonstration, under the slogan “Free homeland, free women,” was organized through an Arabic-language Facebook page carrying the same name, and spread on social media with the hashtag #Tal’at (“coming out”) in Arabic. According to Aman – The Arab Center for a Safe Society – 11 Arab women were murdered this year by their partners or family members in Israel alone.

Participants in Haifa marched through the streets of the lower city, near the port area. “From Beirut to Haifa, women are murdered in the streets and at home. It’s time to protect them,” protesters shouted. “We want to be free and live with respect, solidarity and safety!”

“We cannot free the homeland without harnessing the power women bring,” said the organizers. “All we need is freedom and protection and we will be on a safe path.” Hadash feminist activist, Shahira Shalabi, the deputy mayor of Haifa, also participated in the demonstrations. “By crying out against femicide, we also aim to break the patriarchal structure of Arab society,” she said.

Related: Nationwide Strike & Mass Rally to Protest Governmental Inaction towards Violence against Women