Staff Suspected of Negligent Homicide
Battle Over Autopsies Continues After Tragic Jerusalem Daycare Deaths
Jerusalem Daycare Tragedy: Manager and caregiver arrested for negligent homicide. Supreme Court to rule on controversial autopsies amidst fierce Haredi protests.
The harrowing tragedy at a Jerusalem daycare, where two toddlers perished on Monday, has escalated into a fierce legal and communal clash. The daycare manager and a caregiver have been arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide, while ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) communities staged stormy protests overnight against the court-approved autopsies of the victims' bodies.
Israel's Supreme Court is set to rule in the coming hours on whether to proceed with the examinations despite vehement family opposition. The incident unfolded in the Romema neighborhood, prompting a swift police investigation.
Late Monday night, authorities announced the arrests, citing evidence of "negligent homicide," a charge implying reckless disregard for safety. The two suspects were interrogated and are scheduled to appear before Jerusalem's Magistrate Court this morning, where police will request an extension of their detention.
Meanwhile, all eyes are on the Supreme Court (Bagatz) following an urgent petition by the ZAKA emergency response organization to overturn a lower court's decision authorizing the autopsies.
Justice Alex Stein will preside over the hearing. ZAKA's legal team argues that the procedures violate the families' religious beliefs and the dignity of the deceased, vowing to exhaust all legal avenues to minimize harm.In a statement after the Magistrate Court's ruling, ZAKA said: "We will appeal to the Supreme Court to protect the honor of the toddlers and reduce the infringement as much as possible."Overnight, impassioned demonstrations erupted in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh, with protesters decrying the autopsies as a desecration under Jewish law (Halakha). The rallies are expected to resume this morning in a bid to halt the process.
Magistrate Judge Anat Greenbaum, who issued a temporary stay on the autopsies until 12:00 noon, acknowledged the families' halakhic stance during the hearing: "I am aware of the halakhic position of the families, but there are varying opinions in Halakha." She emphasized the critical need to determine the cause of death for public health reasons and to advance the police probe.
ZAKA proposed a compromise: conducting non-invasive toxicological tests to ascertain the cause without full autopsies. However, Judge Greenbaum rejected this, noting that results could take weeks or months, too long for the urgent investigation.