Israelis protest sexual violence against women

Thousands of Israelis demonstrated and observed a symbolic work stoppage on Sunday to denounce sexual violence against women following the alleged gang-rape of a 16-year-old girl in a Red Sea resort.

The hour-long strike at noon was held "to protest the growing violence against women and girls in Israel, and lack of sufficient punishment", said women's group Bonot Alternativa.

One of the event's organisers, Ariel Peleg, told AFP at least 30 organisations and companies, including municipalities and Microsoft Israel, took part in the vigil which fell on the first day of the Israeli working week.

In the evening, demonstrations were held throughout the country, with thousands attending the main event in the coastal city of Tel Aviv.

An AFP report there said many of the participants wore red clothes at the request of the organisers.

The "women's strike" was organised after reports in recent days of the alleged rape of an intoxicated teen girl by a group of men at a hotel in the Red Sea resort of Eilat.

The reports triggered demonstrations in several Israeli cities on Thursday and was denounced by top leaders, including President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Police said 11 suspects, including nine minors and a woman said to be the manager of the hotel, had been arrested in connection with the affair as part of an "ongoing investigation".