Two Teens Charged in Arson Attack on Givatayim Japninka Amid Crime Gang Feud

On July 12, around 4:00 a.m., two masked youths set fire to a Japninka restaurant branch in Givatayim, Israel, causing property damage but no injuries. Security footage shows the suspects arriving on a two-wheeled vehicle, pouring flammable liquid on the restaurant's facade, igniting it, and fleeing the scene. The incident is believed to be linked to an ongoing violent conflict between the Mosli and Jarushi crime organizations, which has seen several violent events recently.

The investigation, conducted by the Tel Aviv District Central Unit, used technological means to identify the suspects despite attempts to conceal their identities. On July 27, an 18-year-old from Rehovot was arrested, followed by the arrest of another 18-year-old local resident days later. Searches of their homes uncovered evidence and clothing tying them to the arson. Their detention was extended multiple times, and indictments are now being prepared against them.

This case follows another related attack on a Japninka branch in Kiryat Ono, where a grenade was thrown at the restaurant on August 2, 2026. Despite these breakthroughs, several other violent incidents linked to the crime wave remain unsolved. Authorities are also working to establish whether the suspects acted on behalf of one of the crime groups and, if so, which one, though this aspect remains under investigation without conclusive evidence yet.