Man Charged with Murder of 7-Year-Old Boy in Beit Shemesh

The Jerusalem District Prosecutor's Office has filed a severe indictment against Liel Ifargan, a 26-year-old resident of Beit Shemesh, for the aggravated murder of 7-year-old Hillel Mordechai Dadon and the attempted murder of his 4-year-old cousin. The indictment alleges that Ifargan stabbed both children while they were playing in a backyard pool.

According to the indictment, filed by attorney Yael Igra, the incident occurred last month. The two children were playing in an inflatable pool when Ifargan, who lives in a nearby housing unit, emerged with a knife. He entered the yard, approached the pool, and stabbed Hillel in the chest and his cousin in the neck with the intent to kill. He then fled back to his unit and cleaned the knife.

Hillel sustained a fatal chest wound, while his cousin suffered a neck injury with active bleeding. The cousin was hospitalized for three days after undergoing surgery, sedation, and ventilation. Ifargan is charged with intentional murder under aggravated circumstances, attempted murder, and causing severe injury under aggravated circumstances.

The prosecution has requested that Ifargan be held in custody until the legal proceedings are concluded. In a statement, the prosecution expressed condolences to Hillel's family and wished the cousin a full recovery, emphasizing the shocking contrast between the children's innocent play and the defendant's alleged actions.