Fourth Staff Member Arrested in Ariel Daycare Child Abuse Investigation

Police in the West Bank have arrested a fourth staff member in connection with a suspected child abuse scandal at a daycare facility in Ariel. The suspect, a resident of Ariel in her 40s, was taken into custody overnight following an ongoing investigation into the mistreatment of toddlers at the facility.

According to local reports, the suspect had initially come forward to give a testimony early in the investigation and was released after approximately 10 minutes. However, investigators recently reviewed security camera footage from days prior following appeals from parents, leading to her subsequent arrest. Law enforcement and prosecutors are now considering whether to file a prosecutor's statement or postpone it as the probe widens.

The investigation was launched following a report by an animal handler who visited the facility, alongside subsequent complaints from parents. A special police investigative team has been analyzing thousands of hours of security footage, uncovering suspected instances of violence against toddlers, including choking, slamming, and kicking.

Previous arrests in the case include the daycare owner Natalia Ksilavsky and two assistants, Anna Peglsky and Darina Chalufa, whose names were cleared for publication by a court. The case has sparked widespread outrage among parents, including former Knesset member Oren Hazan, whose two children attended the facility and who described the footage as horrific.

Police emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and that all necessary measures will be taken to bring those responsible for the abuse to justice.