Ashdod man attacks family after they ask him to stop photographing them
A family in Ashdod was attacked after asking a man to stop photographing minor girls in swimwear. The victim, who suffered severe facial fractures, accused police of indifference and delaying her medical evacuation. The Israel Police stated that an investigation is ongoing.
Sarit from Ashdod visited her sister's home last week with other family members. What was intended to be a peaceful family gathering turned into a violent confrontation after a stranger began photographing family members, including minors, in swimwear and attacked those who confronted him.
"I cannot stop thinking about the evil that was in him; he did not stop hitting," Sarit, who suffered facial fractures and bruises, told N12.
The incident followed three consecutive Saturdays during which a man in his 60s and his son, who were visiting a friend nearby, photographed the family in their private pool. Among those targeted were two girls aged 14 to 15. The family reported that when they first asked the man to stop, he ignored them, pretending not to understand Hebrew. A previous police call failed when the man fled before officers arrived.
Last Saturday, the situation escalated. Sarit’s brother and her 16-year-old son went to the man's apartment to demand he delete the photos. According to the family, the man punched the brother and then beat the son. Sarit went up to intervene:
"He grabbed my necklace, a memento from my father, and tore it. I bent down to pick up the pendant, and he caught me by surprise and smashed me with a punch. I had five open fractures in my nose, and a bone even came out," Sarit described.
The family claims that the responding officers were indifferent. Sarit stated that an officer insisted on questioning her inside the ambulance despite paramedics warning that she was losing significant blood and required urgent hospital care. They also allege the man was allowed to delete the photos from his device while police were present.
The Israel Police stated:
"Upon receiving the report of a violent incident stemming from a neighbor dispute, officers arrived and opened an investigation. Testimonies were collected and mutual assault claims were examined. Initial testimony was taken from the complainant without delaying her medical evacuation. The involved parties were released under restrictive conditions, including a restraining order. The investigation continues to establish the truth."
