Opened just a month ago and burned down: suspected arson at an Ashkelon restaurant

The The Tree restaurant, which opened just a month ago in a commercial center in the Afridar neighborhood of Ashkelon, burned down completely overnight between Monday and Tuesday. The fire, which is suspected to have been arson, spread quickly to other businesses in the complex, causing heavy damage. There were no casualties in the incident.

The fire broke out around 03:30 on HaNassi Street. Firefighters summoned to the scene identified a widespread blaze in several shops, with the restaurant serving as the primary focus. Due to the intensity of the flames, additional forces were called in from nearby stations and worked for hours to prevent the fire from spreading further.

Full control of the fire was achieved only after prolonged efforts. Subsequently, crews carried out final extinguishing, dismantled parts of the building's roof, and scanned the complex using thermal cameras to ensure no hidden combustion points remained. The restaurant and neighboring businesses suffered heavy damage.

In parallel with firefighting operations, the police opened an investigation. Officers from the Ashkelon station and forensic investigators collected evidence at the scene following the suspicion of deliberate arson. A fire investigator from the Fire and Rescue Authority has joined the ongoing investigation.