Ariel daycare abuse case: hundreds of assaults on infants

A prosecutor's statement was filed today (Wednesday) against the director and two caregivers at a daycare in Ariel, following an intensive investigation by Samaria District Police into suspected severe abuse of infants. The investigation, which began in early October, uncovered hundreds of violent incidents against helpless babies aged ten months to one year and three months.

A special investigative team, made up of detectives from the Ariel station and the Samaria District crime-fighting unit, worked for weeks to complete the investigation. As part of the probe, investigators watched more than 2,400 hours of security-camera footage from the daycare, covering more than 60 days of operation.

The footage revealed suspected acts of severe abuse against infants who were under the suspects' care and supervision. The recordings showed suspected acts of brutal violence, including slamming, choking, hair-pulling, shaking, and even tying up of infants. According to the suspicion, the acts led to blurred vision and loss of consciousness in babies.

The investigation opened in early October, after police received a report of suspicious conduct at the daycare. Upon receiving the report, Ariel station detectives obtained court-approved warrants and seized the security cameras at the site. As investigators reviewed the material, they were exposed to a first incident that raised their suspicion and led to the arrest of the first suspect, a caregiver in her 40s.

At the same time, police investigators were exposed to footage of additional incidents in which there was suspicion of harm to infants by another caregiver, a foreign worker in her 30s without a work permit, as well as by the daycare director. That same morning, with their arrest and the exposure to these difficult recordings, police investigators worked together with the Education Ministry to take steps in accordance with the Law on Supervision of Daycare Centers for Infants.

Due to concern for the infants' safety, a closure order was issued for the daycare for 60 days. Police investigators established a special investigative team for this sensitive and complex investigation, alongside reinforcement of investigators and various officials in Samaria District.

As the investigation progressed and investigators were exposed to additional incidents, suspicion arose against three more caregivers who had been employed at the daycare in the current year and the previous year. They too were arrested by police and released by court decision under restrictive conditions of house arrest. Their investigation is still ongoing.

The detention of the three main suspects was extended from time to time in court at police request. Today, with the completion of the investigation and the formulation of the evidentiary basis against them, a prosecutor's statement was filed regarding the intention to file an indictment against them by the Central District Prosecutor's Office in the coming days. Their detention was also extended until 8.11.26.

With the completion of the investigation stage and the filing of the prosecutor's statement against the three main suspects, police investigators acted to seize the bank accounts and the balances in them as part of the criminal proceedings. The investigation of the case regarding the other suspects continues.

Samaria District Commander Chief Superintendent Moshe Pintzy stated: "Harming the helpless, who are unable to defend themselves or ask for help, is among the most serious and disturbing acts. The findings exposed in the investigation illustrate the severity of the acts attributed to the suspects and the severe breach of trust that the parents placed in them."

"As a father and grandfather, it is hard not to feel the pain of the parents and families who entrusted what is most precious to them into hands that were supposed to provide their children with security, warmth and protection," Pintzy added. "I was exposed to difficult and cruel footage that I have not seen in all my years in public service. The Israel Police is committed to protecting the helpless, to act decisively against any suspicion of harm to them, and to bring those involved to full justice."