Police Arrest 16 Suspects in Underage Marriage Investigation in Yavniel

Dozens of police officers from the Northern District raided several locations in Yavniel on Thursday, detaining 16 minors and adults on suspicion of involvement in underage marriages. According to police, those detained include individuals who allegedly recently married or were making concrete preparations for a wedding ceremony, as well as people close to them.

The raid is part of an ongoing investigation into suspected underage marriages within a small, closed community primarily operating in Yavniel, located in the Lower Galilee. This action follows a similar operation several weeks ago where over 20 suspects were detained for involvement in similar cases in the same town.

Police stated that the wedding ceremonies under investigation typically occur in the morning with a small number of attendees. The locations are not disclosed until shortly before the event, and participants allegedly avoid photography and mobile phones to prevent documentation. Following the religious ceremony, a separate event, presented as an "engagement party," may be held for relatives.

This operation is the latest in a series of police actions against the phenomenon. In June, police acted in Yavniel concerning a suspected upcoming underage wedding. The investigation and subsequent actions have continued since then.

Member of Knesset Merav Cohen, who has been actively addressing the issue of underage marriages in Yavniel, praised the police operation. She described the suspects as "taking a central part in the cult that forcibly marries minors" and expressed belief that this is the second wave of arrests in recent months, not the last. Cohen visited the local council meeting in Yavniel on Wednesday as part of her campaign against the practice.