The lifeless body of a 30-year-old Israeli woman was discovered last Wednesday in a London hotel. While the details surrounding her death remain uncertain, concerted efforts have been made to repatriate her remains to Israel. The woman, identified as a transgender individual from Tel Aviv without immediate family ties, had traveled to London just two weeks before her untimely demise, which is believed to have been caused by substance abuse.
The hotel owner, who found her lifeless in her room, alerted Interpol. Her body was taken for autopsy and cause-of-death determination. The woman had not obtained travel insurance prior to her flight, leaving no insurance company responsible for covering the expenses of repatriating her body to Israel.
Since her passing, her acquaintances have tirelessly sought avenues to bring her home and ensure her proper burial. The “Transgender Israel” association, led by its CEO Linor Aberjel, has been proactive in seeking assistance from the Consular Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Regrettably, their efforts have gone unanswered due to their lack of immediate family status, despite the organization’s longstanding support for the woman.
Recent days have seen intensified efforts by “Transgender Israel,” culminating in a collaborative initiative with Tel Aviv Deputy Mayor Chen Ariel. Through their joint efforts, the association has secured the necessary funds to repatriate the woman’s body. As of now, her acquaintances await a British judge’s approval for a CT scan of her body before proceeding with her repatriation to Israel.
Deputy Mayor of Tel Aviv, Chen Ariel, underscored the importance of community solidarity: “The state neglects the transgender community both within and beyond its borders. It is disheartening that even in death, our community members bear the heavy cost of discrimination and marginalization. In cases like this, our community becomes our family, and here too, we’ve worked together to bring her back to Israel, her homeland.”
Lynor Aberjel, CEO of Transgender Israel, commented, “It’s surreal that while Israel takes responsibility for its citizens imprisoned in foreign lands due to political reasons, it refrains from assisting the burial of a Jewish Israeli’s body or aiding vulnerable families in bringing their loved ones home. I contacted Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, but received no response. Fortunately, with the assistance of Chen Ariel and emergency funds from our association, we’ve collectively ensured her final rest.”
In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “Last Wednesday, an inquiry was received by the Department for Israelis Abroad at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the death of an Israeli citizen in the UK. The department worked in tandem with the Israeli Consul in the London Embassy to verify the information and confirm the unfortunate event to the family. Given the sensitive nature of the case, legal authorities may request post-mortem analysis, potentially delaying the process of her return to Israel.”