Two Men Arrested for Kidnapping and Assault Over Threat to Share Intimate Videos in Northern Israel

Two residents of Yafia, aged 19 and 20, have been charged with kidnapping, robbery, and assault of a young man in the Northern Israel region of Nof HaGalil. The incident reportedly stemmed from the victim's threats to distribute intimate videos of a minor. According to the indictment, the suspects lured the victim to a rental apartment in Nof HaGalil, where they assaulted him, stripped him, handcuffed him, recorded him naked, and stole his mobile phone. They then deleted all media content from his device.

The case began when the victim, a northern resident, filed a complaint stating he had arranged to meet a young woman he did not know at the apartment. Upon arrival, he was attacked by two masked men. Police investigations revealed the motive was linked to a prior relationship between the victim and the minor, who had asked to end their connection. The victim allegedly threatened to share her intimate content stored on his phone.

The minor contacted a friend, who then reached out to the two suspects. They deceived the victim into coming to the apartment. During the assault, the suspects forced him to unlock his phone, deleted all media files, and took the device. They later showed the minor the videos recorded during the attack and confirmed the deletion of the content from the victim's phone.

Deputy Chief Inspector Kobi Biton, commander of the Nof HaGalil police station, condemned the violent act, emphasizing that taking the law into one’s own hands is unacceptable regardless of the circumstances. He affirmed that the police will act decisively against violence and will prosecute those who exploit intimate content for blackmail.