Suspects Detained in Probe Into Secret Child Marriages in Yavniel Community

Dozens of police officers raided several locations in Yavniel and detained multiple people for questioning over suspected involvement in child marriages in a small, closed community over recent years. Among those questioned were minors who are suspected of having married in the past few months.

Investigators say the suspects helped organize the secret weddings, arrange the matches, and carry out the ceremonies, all in violation of the law. According to the probe, most of the weddings took place in the morning with only a small number of attendees, and the ceremony location was kept secret until the last moment.

Police also say the events were staged to prevent photography. As part of the investigation, court orders were issued to gather information from hospitals in northern Israel about cases in which girls from the community gave birth while Interior Ministry records still listed them as single.