19-Year-Old Assaulted by Group of Teens in Eilat During Vacation

A 19-year-old Israeli man was violently attacked by a group of about 20 teenagers in Eilat early Thursday morning during a vacation with friends. The incident began on the city’s promenade when a girl approached the young man and his friends asking for a cigarette. After he refused, tensions escalated as the girl’s boyfriend called over his friends, leading to a physical assault. The victim recalled being kicked repeatedly while on the ground, with one attacker reportedly wielding a knife.

The young man was initially taken to Yoseftal Hospital for a CT scan and released, but due to ongoing severe pain, he was later admitted to Laniado Hospital in Netanya. His father described the attack as "shocking" and "could have ended in murder," noting that bystanders who filmed the assault were threatened and forced to delete their videos.

The police opened an investigation immediately after receiving the report. Six minor suspects were arrested and brought before the Eilat Magistrate’s Court, which released them under restrictive conditions including house arrest. The police plan to request an extension of these restrictions in an upcoming hearing. The investigation is ongoing to ensure all involved are held accountable.