Israel has seen a sharp rise in fatal child drownings, according to a new report published Wednesday by the Beterem Child Safety organization. Based on six years of drowning data, the group said 2026 is on pace to become the deadliest year for child drowning deaths in the past decade.
So far this year, nine children have drowned, three times the number recorded in the same period last year, when three children died, and higher than in previous years as well. Beterem said the pattern points to a worrying increase in preventable deaths, especially during the current year.
Beterem CEO Orly Silbinger said drowning often comes down to just seconds of inattention. “Drowning happens quickly, silently, even in places that seem safe, and it can also happen to older children who do not know how to swim,” she said. “Children can drown within seconds and, in most cases, without the ability to call for help or show obvious distress.”
The report also noted that many teenage boys go on independent trips in nature without an adult or lifeguard, often choosing secluded places such as springs or unguarded beaches, which are especially dangerous. Three of the deaths were Orthodox teenage boys who went out into nature without supervision. Three other drownings happened at home, in a backyard pool or in a bathtub. Half of the cases occurred in the Arab sector, and Beterem urged parents to stay alert around any source of water, even places that appear safe.
