16-Year-Old Indicted for Severely Injuring Dog in the West Bank on Racist Grounds

The State Prosecutor's Office filed an indictment today (Wednesday) with the Jerusalem Youth Magistrate's Court against a 16-year-old from Ma'ale Adumim, over the attack on a Palestinian family’s female dog in the Benjamin region and the infliction of severe injuries on the animal, on racist grounds. The prosecution is asking the court to order his detention until the end of proceedings.

According to the indictment, submitted through attorney Shiral Eldar of the Jerusalem District Prosecutor's Office, the teenager entered the courtyard of a family home several times without permission. In one incident in May, he entered accompanied by two dogs and holding two sticks, attacked the female dog, and caused her severe injuries that required veterinary treatment and medical observation.

The indictment charges the teenager with animal abuse, harming an animal for racist motives, and trespassing for racist motives. Earlier, the Judea and Samaria District Police opened an investigation after footage circulated on May 16 showing a person brutally beating a guard dog in the village of Atara in the Samaria area. According to Palestinian reports, the person was a Jewish settler, but police said at the time that the suspect's identity had not yet been confirmed.

In the footage published on social media, the suspect is seen masked while striking the dog with two sticks as it is tied to its kennel. The dog is seen howling during the attack, and later collapsing to the ground while the suspect continues his actions.