Israeli Woman Allegedly Impersonates Man Online to Commit Sexual Offenses Against Women

A 24-year-old woman from Petah Tikva is suspected of impersonating a man named "Uriel Hazan" online to commit serious sexual offenses against multiple women. The women believed they were interacting with a man, but police allege the suspect used this false identity to deceive them into sexual acts, including rape and indecent acts, under false pretenses. The case came to light on July 26 when several women in their twenties reported similar experiences to the police, describing a pattern of online contact with "Uriel Hazan," who was in fact the young woman behind the profile.

The suspect denies committing the sexual offenses but admits to the impersonation and the relationships formed. After reviewing the investigation materials, Judge Guy Avnon extended her detention until August 13, citing reasonable suspicion of the crimes and concerns about sexual danger and potential interference with the investigation. The judge noted her cooperation, lack of prior convictions, military service, and young age but ruled that release on bail was not appropriate at this stage.

Defense attorney Erez Bar Tzvi revealed that in June, a TV program investigating impersonators contacted the suspect for comment, leading her to send a legal warning that prevented the broadcast of a related exposé. He also raised concerns about possible contamination of the investigation, as all complainants approached the police simultaneously after the warning letter. The defense requested bail with restrictions such as house arrest and no outside contact.

The court also debated whether to publish the suspect’s real name. The defense sought to keep her identity confidential, while the police argued for disclosure to encourage other potential victims to come forward. Judge Avnon allowed publication of the alias "Uriel Hazan" but kept the suspect’s real name and identifying details under gag order for now. This partial disclosure aims to balance public interest with the suspect’s privacy during the ongoing investigation.