"Two teenagers are beating a child - maybe there's a knife": The incident in Netanya where a 15-year-old was arrested and claimed discrimination

On Wednesday, the 100 emergency center received a call from a woman driving through an industrial zone in Netanya. She reported that near the Tapuz gas station, two teenagers were beating a younger child. Fearing for the child's safety and suspecting the teenagers might be armed, she requested a police patrol.

Upon arrival, officers began investigating the incident. A 15-year-old was detained on suspicion of assaulting a 12-year-old. The teenager denied the allegations, claiming the three were merely "fighting in jest."

During the inquiry, officers requested that the teenagers identify themselves. The 15-year-old refused to provide his ID number. Despite repeated explanations from the officers regarding his legal obligation to identify himself, he continued to refuse. This led to a confrontation, resulting in the teenager's arrest and transport to the station for questioning, after which he was released.

The arrest was captured on video and published on the "Daniel Amram Uncensored" Telegram channel. In the footage, the teenager is seen confronting officers, using insults, and claiming he was targeted due to his skin color. "There are two white guys here, you are only arresting me," he says, later adding: "Every week you catch another black guy. Tell me, you idiot, are you only arresting me?"

The video shows officers using force to handcuff the teenager, but it begins only after police had already arrived, omitting the context of the initial emergency call.

"I don't want to take a risk"

A recording of the 100 emergency call, obtained by Walla, reveals the moments leading up to the police arrival. The caller described the scene in real-time:

"I'm in Netanya, in the industrial zone, at the Tapuz gas station. I'm not sure, but I don't want to take a risk. I think I see two big kids beating a small child. Let a patrol car come and look."

She further explained her hesitation to intervene: "I don't want to take a risk, maybe there's a knife there. They are hitting him. It's two against one, against such a small child."

The incident occurred at the same location where, just a week earlier, police had arrested a 14-year-old found in possession of a knife during a separate fight.

Police statement

In response to the viral video, the Israel Police stated that the footage is misleading:

"The video shows only a few seconds after the police arrived, omitting the report that led to the call and the conduct preceding the arrest, thus creating a partial and misleading picture. The Israel Police will continue to act decisively to prevent violence among teenagers. Presenting a short clip of police handling a violent incident as 'police violence,' while omitting the context, is a distortion of the facts and does not reflect reality."