Jerusalem — Israeli authorities on Monday identified the two infants who died after a mass medical emergency at an unlicensed daycare in Jerusalem, as newly released footage from inside the facility revealed severe overcrowding and unsafe conditions, intensifying a criminal investigation into suspected gross negligence by staff.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
The infants were named as Leah Tzipora Golovenchitz and Aharon Katz, both about six months old. They were among 55 babies evacuated from a private daycare operating in the Romema neighborhood after dozens were reported suffering breathing difficulties.
Emergency officials said the incident began early Monday afternoon when rescue services were called to a residential building housing several informal childcare frameworks catering to the ultra-Orthodox community. Initial concerns about a hazardous materials leak were later ruled out by police and fire officials.
Investigators are now focusing on possible severe negligence by three caregivers, who were detained for questioning. Police said they are examining whether the infants were placed under unsafe sleeping conditions, including whether they were covered with the same blanket, leading to overheating or suffocation.
מזרנים בתוך השירותים: תיעוד מהפעוטון בירושלים בו התרחש האסון (ענבר טוויזר) pic.twitter.com/B8vFyN9gEA
— רגע NEWS (@reganews_israel) January 19, 2026
Footage broadcast by Channel 13 News showed rooms crowded with baby strollers packed tightly together, mattresses placed in confined spaces and, in one instance, a baby sleeping on a thin mattress positioned beneath a toilet. Authorities said the images raise serious questions about ventilation, supervision and basic safety standards.
Paramedics from Magen David Adom said they performed prolonged resuscitation efforts on the two infants before transporting them to Shaare Zedek Medical Center and Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital, where doctors later pronounced them dead. An additional 53 infants were taken to hospitals for evaluation, most of them in stable condition.
“This was an extremely difficult scene,” said MDA paramedic Nadav Taib, describing repeated emergency calls to the daycare as crews worked to evacuate all the children and provide treatment.
The daycare was operating without a license and outside the oversight of Israel’s Education Ministry, officials confirmed. Education Minister Yoav Kisch said the tragedy exposed a dangerous phenomenon and announced the formation of an interagency task force to identify, shut down and enforce action against unlicensed childcare facilities.
President Isaac Herzog issued a statement expressing deep condolences to the families and called for a thorough investigation, saying enforcement and oversight of early childhood frameworks are “critical to the safety of our children.”
Religious and political leaders also weighed in, warning that unregulated childcare poses a life-threatening risk. Child welfare advocates said the incident underscores the need for immediate enforcement against illegal daycare operations.
Police said the investigation remains ongoing, and additional findings are expected as forensic reviews and witness interviews continue.