Ariel Daycare Owner and Assistants Face Court Amid Severe Abuse Probes
The owner and assistants of an Ariel daycare face court hearings for alleged severe child abuse. Former MK Oren Hazen and other shocked parents demand full accountability after security footage revealed systemic violence.
The owner of a daycare center in Ariel is scheduled to appear at the Petah Tikva Magistrates' Court on Sunday for a remand extension hearing amid suspicions of severe child abuse at the facility. Two assistants from the same daycare are expected to face court on Monday as police seek to prolong their detentions as well.
The unfolding scandal has deeply shaken the parents of the toddlers, who were confronted with harrowing descriptions of alleged abuse including suffocation, flying objects, starvation, slaps, dragging across the floor, and other violent acts. The suspicions surfaced following an inspection of security cameras at the facility, leaving families in shock—particularly because some continued sending their children to the daycare even after police had already gathered the surveillance footage.
Discovery by an Animal Trainer
Former Knesset member Oren Hazen, whose children attended the daycare, described the profound turmoil gripping his family and other parents. Hazen noted that the investigation was triggered by the alertness of an animal trainer who visited the facility after a holiday and noticed unusual behavior toward a toddler, prompting her to file a police report.
According to Hazen, police initially delayed a thorough review of the claims for about two weeks, nearly closing the file before deciding to examine the security footage. Once reviewed, the camera recordings immediately revealed acts of violence, leading to the rapid arrest of the manager and several staff members.
Harrowing Courtroom Testimony
During court proceedings, prosecutors detailed widespread and methodical abuse occurring on a daily basis. Hazen recounted that one hearing presented evidence of 36 violent incidents in a single day, including choking children for up to a minute until they lost consciousness and fell asleep if they refused to nap.
Hazen also criticized the initial police communication, noting that some parents were mistakenly told they could continue sending their children to the facility in the days immediately following the seizure of cameras, prior to full evaluation of the footage. As court hearings continue, parents emphasize that their struggle for full accountability is only beginning.
