Beersheba resident arrested for attempted re-kidnapping of young woman
A 24-year-old Beersheba resident has been detained on suspicion of attempting to kidnap a young woman from a hostel, ten days after she was rescued from Hebron. The court extended his detention by two days, despite defense arguments regarding the release of other suspects in the case.
The Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court extended the detention of a 24-year-old Beersheba resident by two days this Sunday. The suspect is accused of involvement in the kidnapping of a young woman to Hebron and an attempt to kidnap her again from the hostel where she had been relocated following her rescue.
The case began approximately ten days ago when the young woman was abducted from a hostel in the Tel Aviv area and taken to Hebron. She was rescued in a joint operation involving the police, the IDF, and the Palestinian police. According to investigators, the suspect acted as part of a group that included the woman's family members. Two of her sisters were also questioned but were released to house arrest without a detention extension hearing.
During the court hearing, police representatives stated that after her rescue, the young woman was transferred to an LGBTQ community hostel. She later reported seeing the suspect arrive at the location with another individual. Fearing a repeat kidnapping, she retreated into the building, asked staff to lock the doors, and contacted the police.
Police confirmed that no physical interaction or verbal threats occurred during the second incident. However, the suspicion of a kidnapping attempt is based on his alleged role in the initial abduction. The suspect acknowledged his connection to both events, offering an "innocent version" of his actions, and reportedly approached an officer on his own initiative, stating, "You are looking for me."
Police charged the suspect with invasion of privacy, threats, conspiracy to commit a crime, and kidnapping, requesting a seven-day extension to prevent interference with the investigation. The defense attorney demanded his release under restrictive conditions, emphasizing that no physical act was committed against the victim and alleging selective enforcement, noting that the victim's sisters had been released.
Judge Ronen Ilan, after reviewing the evidence, determined that reasonable suspicion exists. The judge noted that the suspect's presence near the victim "raises questions and establishes the suspicion." However, the court rejected the request for a longer detention, limiting the extension to two days to facilitate the investigation.
