"This is our life's work": New restaurant in Ashkelon burns down, police suspect arson
A major fire broke out early this morning in the Afridar neighborhood of Ashkelon, causing severe damage to the Etz restaurant and nearby businesses. Investigators are currently treating the incident as a suspected arson. The owners stated they are awaiting the results of the investigation.
The Etz restaurant, located in a shopping center in Ashkelon, was destroyed by a fire that broke out early this morning. Authorities are currently investigating the incident as a suspected case of intentional arson.
Given the suspicion that the building housing the shopping center and the restaurant was targeted, fire investigators and police personnel arrived at the scene to examine the circumstances of the blaze.
The fire began around 03:30 on HaNassi Street in the city's Afridar neighborhood. Firefighters responding to the scene encountered a large-scale fire affecting several shops, with the restaurant serving as the primary source of the flames. Due to the intensity of the blaze, additional units from nearby stations were deployed, working for several hours to prevent the fire from spreading further.
Full control over the fire was achieved only after prolonged efforts. Subsequently, crews carried out final extinguishing operations, dismantled parts of the building's roof, and scanned the complex using thermal cameras to ensure no hidden fire pockets remained. The restaurant and adjacent businesses suffered heavy damage.
"This is our life's work, Dror Simon's and mine," Tal Hollander, one of the owners of the Etz restaurant, told Maariv. "The restaurant opened about a month ago, and hundreds of customers quickly flocked to it, turning the place into a successful business."
Investigators have begun collecting testimonies and analyzing footage from nearby security cameras to clarify the circumstances of the ignition. If the investigation confirms that the building was set on fire, authorities will work to locate and arrest the suspects involved to bring them to justice.
"We are now waiting for answers from the investigating authorities, and we will do everything to reopen the place as soon as possible," said Hollander. The investigation into the incident continues.
