Young girl allegedly murdered by mother's ex after preparing hats for march on Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Twelve-year-old sewed pink hats for Tel Aviv's event commemorating the United Nations backed day

Young girl who was an Eritrean asylum seeker was involved in an African refugee women’s collective called Kuchinate whose members make a living from crocheting baskets and hosting visitors at their studio (Getty)

A young Israeli girl was found dead in her home shortly after she had helped to prepare for and marched on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Twelve-year-old Sylvana Tsegai had been sewing pink hats for an annual march commemorating the United Nations-backed day in her home city of Tel Aviv last Sunday.

The Eritrean asylum seeker was involved with an African refugee women’s collective called Kuchinate whose members make a living from crocheting baskets and hosting visitors at their studio.

She was found dead earlier this week. Her mother Malay Guawi's ex-boyfriend, Tesfabran Tesfatsion, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and sexual assault.

“I had one girl and now she is dead. I want my girl to come back now,” Ms Guawi told the Hadashot news channel.

The Kuchinate collective also said it was "devastated by the senseless and cruel murder of our youngest member".

"She would frequently arrive after school and would crochet and chat and eat with us,” it said on Facebook. “A beautiful, special, independent, gentle, creative soul has gone. May her dear soul rest in peace.”

The group said that they had "prayed in memory of mothers, sisters and daughters murdered by violence," at the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women march.

"Sylvana was murdered the next day," it added.

Commenting on the post, Sharon Cohen Tischler said that Sylvana had spoken "of her dreams to be a fashion model, and make money so that she could be independent.... We never asked her why.”

A police spokesperson said that several days before her death she called to complain about Mr Tesfatsion - who had come to the flat in the Hatikva neighbourhood to collect his belongings.

“Both in that complaint and after being questioned by officers about him, the girl stated that he never used violence against her in any way,” the statement said.

A group of women held a demonstration outside the main Tel Aviv police station to protest violence against women - which has claimed 23 victims since the beginning of the year.

Protesters, wearing black, brandished signs with the names of the women murdered this year. In Jerusalem, female protesters lay frozen on the ground in a big puddle of blood-coloured liquid.