Israeli Police Raid Negev Village in Major Crackdown on Illegal Polygamy
Israeli police raided Bir Hadaj in the Negev, detaining 10 suspects in a major crackdown on illegal polygamy involving five men, 15 wives, and 67 children.
Israeli police forces conducted a large-scale enforcement operation in the Negev village of Bir Hadaj, targeting illegal polygamy. Units from the Southern District, including the National Guard and detectives, raided five residential compounds suspected of hosting unlawful multi-wife marriages, detaining approximately 10 individuals for questioning.
According to the Southern District's dedicated polygamy unit established in late 2024, five primary suspects are linked to a total of 15 wives and 67 children. Notable cases include a 25-year-old man married to three women with eight children, and a 32-year-old suspect also married to three women with nine children.
During the searches, officers seized marriage documents, certificates, wedding photographs, mobile phones, and a quantity of suspected hashish. Police emphasized that polygamy causes severe social and economic harm, particularly to women and minors. The case files will be forwarded to the Southern District Prosecutor's Office for potential legal proceedings upon completion of the investigation.
