Police refused to help 13-year-old brutally beaten in Netanya 

A 13-year-old boy was viciously assaulted by approximately 20 teenagers aged 14-16 during Independence Day celebrations in Netanya (May 7, 2025). The boy’s father, Moshe, has appealed to the municipality and police to review security camera footage from Independence Square and the promenade amphitheater. “They ambushed him near the square, beating him mercilessly: punches to the throat, kicks, curses. No one was there to protect a 13-year-old. No police, no inspector. He was just beaten to a pulp,” Moshe recounted in anguish.

The assault continued at the amphitheater, where Moshe said one attacker pushed his son down the stairs, and another struck his head twice with a large stone. “One more blow, and they could have killed him,” he said. Bleeding and battered, the boy narrowly escaped, running toward Alonzo Restaurant and Golda Ice Cream nearby.

Moshe’s greatest shock came when his son sought help from a municipal inspector. “My son begged for help, but the inspector dismissively told him, ‘Go file a complaint with the police, there’s nothing I can do.’ It’s unbelievable,” he claimed.

After the attack, the boy was rushed by ambulance to Laniado Hospital, where he underwent CT scans and received treatment. He now suffers from physical pain and severe psychological trauma. On Friday, Moshe filed a formal complaint at the Netanya police station but says he is still awaiting progress.

Moshe pointed an accusatory finger at the police and local authorities: “Where were the officers and inspectors? Why was no one there to protect him? Why have cameras all over the city if they’re not used in cases like this? If this were an inspector, officer, or municipal worker, I’m sure you wouldn’t hesitate to check the cameras and act.”

An eyewitness described the scene: “He was alone. Five other kids were also beaten. There weren’t five or ten attackers: there were far more, maybe twenty. My son was lynched by the same group three weeks ago. They sprayed snow spray in his face, rolled him down stairs, hit his head and body, punched him, chased him, cursed him, and threw stones. He was crying, bruised all over.

He saw an inspector, ran to him in panic, saying, ‘Help me, they’re chasing and beating me.’ The inspector told him, ‘Call the police.’ Now he has an ear injury. I filed a complaint, and we’ll see where it goes.”

Netanya Municipality responded: “We regret the incident. That evening, there was a significant presence of policing inspectors handling events in the square. Once a complaint is filed with the police, all materials, including security camera footage, are transferred to the police for investigation.”

Walla! contributed to this article.