Ariel Daycare Abuse Scandal Shocks Israel as Former MK Weeps on TV

A new severe child abuse scandal has shaken Israel, echoing the notorious Carmel Mauda case. Seven years after that tragedy, horrific details emerged from a private daycare in Ariel, dubbed by investigators as a house of terror. Former Knesset member Oren Hazen, whose children attended the facility, broke down in tears during a televised interview on Thursday, describing systematic violence against toddlers aged six months to three years.

"This is one of the worst abuse scandals this country has ever known, involving infants from six months to three years old. The day the footage is released, the country will tremble," Hazen said, detailing acts including slamming children against floors and walls, starvation, beating, and suffocation. Police have lifted a gag order, identifying the suspects as daycare director Natalia Kiselvsky and staff members Darina Chaloufa and Anna Peglsky. Investigators have identified hundreds of violent incidents, including tied-up limbs and restricted airways.

The investigation was launched after a monitor reported suspicious behavior to police, leading to the seizure of security camera footage. Court proceedings revealed that investigators documented 187 violent incidents attributed to Chaloufa, 77 to Peglsky, and 18 to Kiselvsky. Police stated that the abuse occurred daily, with some days recording over 30 separate violent episodes, including shaking, striking, and forced choking until loss of consciousness.

Reflecting on his experience, a visibly shaken Hazen recounted how he never suspected anything amiss when picking up his children, who appeared neat and smiling. He urged parents across Israel to remain vigilant, listen closely to their children, and report any suspicious signs immediately. The Petah Tikva Magistrates' Court authorized the publication of the suspects' names as police finalize the investigation ahead of expected indictments.