developing· Security· Updated
Israeli Police Uncover Sophisticated Begging Ring Exploiting Children
The Northern District police dismantled a major begging ring operating at intersections in northern Israel near Nazareth, arresting over 40 individuals, primarily Palestinian women and children. The operation targeted the exploitation of children, some as young as four years old, who were used to solicit donations from drivers.
3 newsrooms · 2 languages · since
What happened
- 01The Northern District police arrested over 40 Palestinian women and children involved in a major begging ring near Nazareth.
- 02Intermediaries organized the illegal entry of the beggars from Jenin and Nablus and deployed them to busy intersections.
- 03Beggars used infants and children as young as four to elicit sympathy, earning up to 3,000 shekels daily.
- 04Police discovered that the children were housed in temporary camps and makeshift shelters in forest groves near Nazareth.
- 05Children under the age of criminal responsibility were transferred to Palestinian Authority representatives in coordination with the IDF.
- 06Adults involved in the ring were detained for questioning, and the Nazareth Magistrate's Court extended several arrests.
- 07The head of the Jezreel Valley Regional Council praised the operation and called for continued action against the organizers.
According to police investigators, the beggars were brought into Israel from the Jenin and Nablus areas in Samaria by Israeli and Palestinian intermediaries, referred to as contractors. These organizers facilitated their illegal entry and deployed them to specific, busy intersections. Women, some only 21 years old, stood for hours in temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius holding infants to elicit sympathy, earning up to 3,000 shekels daily, which they shared with the intermediaries.
During the raids, police officers uncovered makeshift shelters and temporary camps in forest groves near Nazareth where the children were housed. The children, who are under the age of criminal responsibility, were transferred to Palestinian Authority representatives after coordination with the IDF, or handed over at checkpoints. The adults involved were detained for questioning, and the Nazareth Magistrate's Court extended some of their arrests.
Local officials, including the head of the Jezreel Valley Regional Council, praised the police operation. While authorities described the exploitation of the children as difficult and sad, local officials also warned of the security risks associated with the undocumented presence of these individuals in Israel.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: Cursorinfo. Read Cursorinfo’s originalThe coverage
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