5 daycare workers arrested in Ashkelon toddler abuse case

Ashkelon police arrested five daycare workers on Wednesday on suspicion of assaulting toddlers in their care. The suspects, one daycare worker and four assistants, all Ashkelon residents, worked at two private daycares operating under the same management, according to the police spokesperson.

The investigation began after a report filed with police earlier this week raised suspicion of violent conduct toward toddlers at the facilities. The children allegedly harmed are between one and three years old.

Following investigative work by Ashkelon police, including the collection of evidence and additional findings that strengthened the suspicion, the decision was made to arrest the suspects. They are being held on suspicion of assaulting a helpless minor by a person responsible for the child's welfare.

Archive (Photo: Israel Police Spokesperson)

In the coming days, police investigators will summon the parents of the toddlers identified as having been harmed, in order to take formal complaints and further clarify the circumstances of the incidents.

The interrogation of the suspects is ongoing, and depending on the progress of the investigation and the evidence collected, authorities will consider bringing them before a court to request an extension of their detention.

"Israel Police views with utmost severity any instance of violence against helpless minors, particularly against young toddlers entrusted to those responsible for their safety and wellbeing," the police spokesperson said. "The police will act with determination and zero tolerance toward harm to the helpless, exhausting all necessary investigative measures in order to get to the truth and bring those responsible to justice."

The Ashkelon case joins a series of suspected abuse incidents involving toddlers that have come to light in recent months. About a week ago, a severe indictment was filed in a case at a daycare in Ariel against a director and two caregivers for more than 400 incidents of abuse and assault of 17 infants and toddlers. In addition, about two weeks ago, a serious abuse case was uncovered at a daycare in Ra'anana, in which three assistants were arrested on suspicion of abusing toddlers.