Five Arrested in Ashkelon on Suspicion of Abusing Toddlers

Police in Ashkelon have arrested a kindergarten teacher and four assistants on suspicion of assaulting toddlers aged one to three in two private daycare centers operating under the same management. The arrests followed an investigation launched this week after reports of alleged violent conduct towards children in the facilities. Investigators gathered evidence that strengthened the suspicions, leading to the decision to detain the five suspects. The police intend to contact the parents of the toddlers believed to have been harmed to take their complaints and clarify the circumstances of the incidents.

This development comes as a separate, serious indictment was filed earlier this week against the manager and two caregivers of the "Luchik" private daycare in Ariel. They are accused of over 400 instances of assault and abuse against 17 infants and toddlers, aged six months to three years. The indictment details violent disciplinary methods, including obstructing airways, binding, force-feeding, and locking children in a dark room. Prosecutors are seeking the pre-trial detention of these three individuals, citing their exploitation of the children's absolute dependence.

The Ariel indictment describes repeated violence such as hitting, pushing, pulling, and shaking, as well as throwing children onto the floor or mattresses. A specific method, termed "choking technique," involved obstructing the children's airways with hands, paper, or cloth, sometimes for extended periods until the children became disoriented. Another described method involved binding the children tightly in blankets, preventing movement, and force-feeding them while restrained. Children were also allegedly locked in a dark room as punishment, left unattended despite crying and attempts to escape.

In addition to physical abuse, the Ariel caregivers are accused of psychological abuse, with many incidents occurring in the presence of other children, causing them distress. The prosecution argues that repeated exposure to violence inflicted psychological harm even on children who were not direct targets of the assaults.