Eilat Man, 18, Indicted for Sex Crimes Against Minors

The Southern District Prosecutor's Office has filed an indictment against an 18-year-old from Eilat for severe sex offenses, including rape and indecent acts, against minors. The accused, who was a minor himself at the time of the alleged offenses, is suspected of sexually assaulting 13 victims, some as young as seven. The indictment details repeated sexual offenses committed between 2025 and 2026 against minors known to the defendant through social gatherings and shared games. He allegedly met with children in parks, shelters, and homes, exploiting these meetings for the assaults. In some instances, he invited minors to his home for computer games, where he committed rape even after being asked to stop. In other cases, he lured minors to secluded areas, sometimes using force or pretexts, and committed sexual offenses. The indictment also states that some acts were committed in the presence of other minors, and in one case, the defendant allegedly compelled one minor to rape another. The accused also used social media platforms like TikTok and WhatsApp to engage in sexually explicit conversations, share intimate photos, and solicit similar images from minors. He is charged with numerous counts of rape, causing rape, attempted rape, and indecent acts.

The investigation began with a single complaint on October 9th from a mother in Eilat whose 13-and-a-half-year-old son reported being threatened by another teenager who demanded his phone or threatened to distribute sexually explicit videos. The son also revealed he had been sexually assaulted by an 18-year-old acquaintance and had been forced to participate in sexual acts with another minor. This led investigators to uncover suspicions of broader abuse involving multiple children. The investigation revealed the suspect had befriended younger teenagers, some of whom knew each other and shared social circles. The assaults allegedly occurred during social gatherings without adult supervision, at the suspect's home, the victims' homes, and other meeting places. The investigation involved child protection centers, welfare authorities, and professionals, gathering testimonies from minors, parents, friends, and educators. The suspect initially denied the allegations but later changed his story, confessing to sexual offenses against 10 minors. Further investigation raised suspicions regarding 13 alleged victims in total. The suspect participated in three filmed reenactments, and digital evidence from his phone was examined alongside witness testimonies.