Man Indicted for Murdering Boy, Attempting to Kill Cousin in Jerusalem

The State Prosecutor's Office has filed an indictment against Liel Ifargan, 26, from Beit Shemesh, for the aggravated murder of Hillel Mordechai Dadon and the attempted murder of his cousin. According to the indictment, Ifargan emerged from a housing unit armed with a knife and attacked the two boys while they were playing in a backyard pool.

The indictment details that the incident occurred last month when Hillel visited his uncle's home. While Hillel and his cousin were playing in the pool around 4:38 PM, Ifargan, who lives in an adjacent unit, ran out with a knife. He allegedly entered the yard, approached the pool, and stabbed Hillel once in the chest and his cousin once in the neck, intending to kill both.

Following the attack, Ifargan reportedly fled back to his unit and cleaned the knife. Hillel sustained severe chest injuries, including damage to his lung and pericardium, which led to his death. His cousin suffered a bleeding wound to the right side of his neck, underwent surgery, and was hospitalized for three days.

Ifargan is charged with aggravated murder, attempted murder, and aggravated battery. The prosecution is requesting that he be held in custody until the legal proceedings conclude. The Prosecutor's Office expressed condolences to Hillel's family and wished the cousin a full recovery, noting the shocking contrast between the children's innocent play and the defendant's alleged actions. Hillel's father, Amos, expressed a desire for swift justice, while his mother, Tamar, voiced distress and questioned how a psychiatric issue could absolve someone of severe punishment.