Nine Arab Children Drown This Season; Beterem Warns of Continued Drownings After Swimming Season Ends
Translated & summarized from Alarab by baba
Israel's official swimming season ends October 26, 2026, with nine Arab children among 21 drowning victims nationwide. The Beterem National Center for Child Safety highlighted that Arab victims, aged 0-17, constituted 43% of drownings, a rate higher than their population share. The organization warned of continued risks from private and hotel pools after the season's close and urged enhanced safety measures.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Nine Arab children drowned during Israel's 2026 swimming season, according to Beterem.
- Arab victims represented 43% of the 21 total drownings nationwide.
- The official swimming season ends October 26, 2026, with lifeguard services stopping.
- Beterem warned of continued drowning risks from private and hotel pools.
- The organization urged parents to secure home swimming pools.
The official swimming season in Israel concludes on Saturday, October 26, 2026, with lifeguard services ceasing at all designated beaches until the next season opens in 2027. According to data from the Beterem National Center for Child Safety, this season saw nine children from the Arab community, aged birth to 17, die from drowning incidents. Overall, 21 drowning incidents occurred across the country during the swimming season, with Arab victims accounting for 43% of the total, a disproportionately high figure given their percentage of the general population. The Jewish community experienced 11 drowning incidents, representing 52% of the total.
Beterem reported that the nine Arab child drowning victims were found in various locations, including the sea, private swimming pools, hotel pools, home yards, rivers, and water reservoirs. The victims included three children aged 0-4, two aged 5-9, two aged 10-14, and one aged 15-17.
Despite the official season's end, Beterem cautioned that drownings can continue, particularly in private home pools or at hotels and guesthouses with pools. Swimming may also continue at beaches despite the absence of lifeguards. The organization stressed that entering the sea is prohibited without a lifeguard present. Beterem urged parents with home pools to empty them when not in use and to ensure pools are secured with fences and self-closing gates to prevent unsupervised access by children.
