Killing of Yemanu Binyamin Zelka

Killing of Yemanu Binyamin Zelka
Surveillance image showing the moments before Zelka's death
Location32°04′26″N 34°52′13″E / 32.07389°N 34.87028°E / 32.07389; 34.87028
Outside the Pizza Hut in Kfar Ganim, Petah Tikva, Israel
Date22 April 2026 (2026-04-22)
01:00 (Israel Daylight Time, UTC+3)
WeaponKnife
Deaths1
VictimYemanu Binyamin Zelka
Accused16
Charges1 person was charged with second degree murder and the others for causing serious bodily harm with intent

On 22 April 2026, 21-year-old Yemanu Binyamin Zelka (Hebrew: ימנו בנימין זלקה) was attacked and stabbed in Petah Tikva, Israel. The attack occurred after he asked a group of teenagers to stop spraying party foam inside the Pizza Hut where he worked. He died the next day. Nineteen suspects between the ages of 12–17 were arrested in connection with the attack. Sixteen of the suspects were indicted on 10 May. The suspect accused of stabbing Zelka was charged with second degree murder, and the other fifteen were charged with causing serious bodily harm with intent.

Background

Yemanu Binyamin Zelka was a 21-year-old Ethiopian-Israeli.[1] When he was one year old, his family immigrated to Israel.[2] He has at least 2 siblings.[3] He attended high school at Amit Eliraz Yeshiva in Petah Tikva and was a graduate of and counselor at Bnei Akiva.[4][5] According to his parents, he had supported his family financially by working since age 14.[2] Zelka was employed by Pizza Hut in the Kfar Ganim neighborhood of Petah Tikva for 5 years.[6][7] According to his coworkers, he had advanced from a delivery person to shift supervisor.[8]

Israel experienced 105 murders between 1 January and 24 April 2026.[5][9] The Times of Israel interpreted these statistics as indication of a crime wave.[5] Additionally, arrests of minors in the Tel Aviv area have increased from 301 in 2022 to 568 in 2025. Cases against minors have increased rom 2,043 in 2022 to 2,084 in 2025. About 80% of the accused in these cases are Israeli citizens.[10] According to Ynet, cases against minors for serious crimes have increased from a few dozen in the years before 2023 to 109 in 2024.[11][12]

Incident

The incident occurred on Israel's Independence Day.[6] According to local residents, several fights had already occurred in the immediate area that night, and local police did not intervene.[13][14]

At approximately 01:00 on 22 April 2026, Zelka asked a group of rowdy teenagers to stop spraying party foam inside the Pizza Hut where he was working. After finishing work, he left the building, and the teenagers attacked him.[6][15][16] CCTV footage shows the teenagers encircling Zelka. After one teenager shoves him to the ground, the others hit him.[17][18] When he tries to leave, they beat him with bottles and throw him against a railing.[17] Someone attempts to intervene and stop the attack.[19] One of the teenagers stabs Zelka.[18][15] They leave him lying in a pool of blood on the ground.[17][15] According to the police, the suspects shut off their phones and did not return home in an attempt to evade arrest.[6][8]

At 01:15, Magen David Adom emergency response received a call about the attack.[7] When they arrived on the scene, Zelka was unconscious[5][7] and was injured in his legs and abdomen.[20] Zelka was taken to Beilinson Hospital where he died the next day.[5][7][21] He was buried at Yarkon Cemetery.[7] Two days after Zelka's death, another Ethiopian-Israeli, Destao Chekol, was stabbed and killed by teenagers.[22][23][24]

Investigation

Arrests

According to the local police, they misinterpreted the incident as a fight and did not notify the serious crimes unit until 23 April.[6][21] On 25 April the police arrested seven suspects between the ages of 12–17.[6][8][21] According to the police, they used security footage to locate the suspects.[21] Two of the suspects, who are 12 years old, were released on house arrest the same day.[1][17] The primary suspect, who is 15 years old, was arrested along with his parents who are accused of attempting to prevent his arrest.[6][8][21] A CCTV image of him holding a bloody knife was released by Channel 12.[1] In the 2 weeks after Zelka's death, the police continued to make arrests, eventually arresting 19 suspects.[25] According to Haaretz, all of the suspects live in Petah Tikva and several are schoolmates.[1][21] One is from a crime family;[6][8] one is the child of an intelligence official.[15][26] The case is subject to a gag order because it involves minors.[6][15][20][27] The police have stated that they do not want their investigation to have a similar result as the police investigation in the 2022 killing of Yoel Lhanghal.[28]

Indictments

On 10 May, 16 of the 19 suspects were indicted. The primary suspect was charged with second degree murder and the others with causing serious bodily harm with intent. Other charges faced by some of the teens include: making threats, obstruction of justice, destroying evidence and conspiracy to assault.[3][29] According to prosecutors, the primary suspect was not charged with first degree murder because there was no indication that the stabbing was premeditated.[3]

According to the indictment, one of the defendants threatened Zelka after he asked them to leave the restaurant for spraying snow spray; one said that he felt disrespected by Zelka, that he planned to stab Zelka, and that he was "ready to go to prison for it." After Zelka left the restaurant, the suspects attacked him, pushing him and hitting him with snow spray cans. The indictment states that the primary suspect watched until he saw that Zelka had started to escape from the group; at that point, the suspect stabbed Zelka in the groin. A few of the defendants continued assaulting Zelka, and he eventually died at the hospital.[3]

Reactions

Family

Messages left outside the Pizza Hut where Zelka worked
Messages left outside the Pizza Hut where Zelka worked

Zelka's family described him as a "pure, innocent kid".[1] His sister pointed to police negligence as the cause of her brother's death and denied that racism against Ethiopian Israelis played a role.[30] Zelka's family criticized the indictments as too lenient. They accused the prosecution of protecting the suspects and the primary suspect of tampering with evidence.[29][3] They called for stricter punishments in order to prevent additional murders.[30]

Public response

Mourners placed flowers, messages, and candles at the site of the attack.[7][5] On 25 April, hundreds of people protested in Goren Square outside the Pizza Hut, condemning National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and the Israel Police for their response to crime in the area.[1][31][13] They chanted “Ben Gvir, wake up". The rally was attended by Benny Gantz and MK Pnina Tamano-Shata. Tamano-Shata stated that "Blood is being spilled in the streets for no reason" and that the police "did nothing" to respond to Zelka's death for three days.[1]

Pizza Hut pledged to continue paying Zelka's salary to his family. As of 27 April, 1.5 million NIS was crowdfunded for his family.[32] On 28 April, a group of mostly Ethiopian-Israeli protesters chanted: “Ethiopian blood is not cheap” outside the court.[33] On 9 May, protesters outside the court criticized the anticipated indictments as too lenient.[29][30]

Responses from politicians

Condolences were offered by Petah Tikva mayor Rami Greenberg, First Lady Michal Herzog,[5][7] and Bnei Akiva.[5][4]

Opposition politicians such as Meirav Ben-Ari, Gilad Kariv, and Naftali Bennett criticized the police as incompetent.[5][10] The Haaretz editorial board blamed Ben-Gvir for undermining the police and said that police negligence had led to "teenagers who act like criminals in every respect".[34]

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the attack, stating that it should be punished and that the educational system should reinforce that such a crime in unacceptable. He met with Education Minister Yoav Kisch and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to discuss how to prevent violence among youth. According to The Times of Israel, Netanyahu appeared to condemn the protests in support of Zelka as "wild incitement".[10] Ben Gvir pledged to bring the murderers to justice and increase the number of police. He called for improved education against violence, stating that "we can’t station a police officer at every pizzeria".[10][17] The chief of Israel Police, Danny Levy, characterized the killing of Zelka as an example of "spontaneous, unpredictable incidents — ones that are difficult and sometimes impossible to prevent in advance".[10][17]

On 4 May, a meeting was held in the Knesset to discuss efforts to curb youth violence. At the meeting, Likud member and Herzliya council member Rafi Chaim-Kedoshim stated that the accused teenagers "didn’t mean to kill [Zelka], just to stab him." Several opposition members, including Gilad Kariv and Naama Lazimi, denounced Chaim-Kedoshim's presence at the meeting because of his multiple convictions for violent crimes. His statement was condemned by MK Pnina Tamano-Shata and Naftali Bennet.[35][36][37]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Tercatin, Rossella (25 April 2026). "Hundreds protest police inaction after pizzeria murder: 'This is a wake-up call'". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  2. 1 2 תורג'מן, מאיר; רובינשטיין, רועי (9 May 2026). "16 נערים יואשמו מחר, בת"א קראו "צדק לימנו". אחותו: "עבר אמבוש, והפרקליטות עיוורת"" [16 teenagers will be charged tomorrow, in Tel Aviv they chanted "Justice for us." His sister: "He was ambushed, and the prosecution is blind"]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "'All Are Murderers in Our Eyes' • Sixteen Teens Indicted in Independence Day Killing of Pizza Hut Employee". Haaretz. 11 May 2026.
  4. 1 2 "הזעזוע בעקבות רצח ימנו זלקה: שיעורים לזכרו ודרישת ההורים לשינוי עומק במערכת החינוך" [The Shock Following the Murder of Yamno Zelka: Lessons in His Memory and Parents' Demand for Deep Change in the Education System]. Maariv (in Hebrew). 26 April 2026. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Pizzeria worker stabbed to death by teens on Independence Day after asking them not to use party spray". The Times of Israel. 24 April 2026. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Seven teens arrested in connection with Independence Day murder of pizzeria worker". The Times of Israel. 25 April 2026. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 רובינשטיין, רועי; רובינשטיין, רועי (24 April 2026). "העדות הקשה מהרצח בפיצרייה: "נראה שהוא נלחם בהתחלה, הנערים הקיפו מכל כיוון"" [The difficult testimony from the murder in the pizzeria: "It seems he fought at first, the boys surrounded him from all directions]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 רובינשטיין, רועי; רובינשטיין, רועי (25 April 2026). ""התנהלו כמו עבריינים בכירים": 7 נערים נעצרו בחשד למעורבות ברצח בפיצרייה" ["They acted like high-ranking criminals": 7 teenagers arrested on suspicion of involvement in pizzeria murder]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  9. ↑ "מת מפצעיו עובד שנדקר בפתח תקווה בידי נערים לאחר שביקש מהם לא לרסס קצף בפיצרייה" [A worker stabbed in Petah Tikva by teenagers after asking them not to spray foam in a pizzeria dies from his wounds]. Haaretz. 24 April 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Levaton, Stav; Summers, Charlie (26 April 2026). "Netanyahu vows police, education action following 'heinous' Petah Tikvah killing". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  11. ↑ קדרי-עובדיה, שירה; קדרי-עובדיה, שירה (26 April 2026). "הנוער גדל במלחמה - והאלימות מתפרצת: "הם לא חיים בוואקום": הנתונים הקשים" [Youth grows up in war - and violence erupts: "They don't live in a vacuum": The hard data]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  12. ↑ Cordall, Simon Speakman. "Israel's 'two-tier' policing and the crime epidemic in Palestinian towns". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  13. 1 2 ""זה געש במשך שעות": בפתח תקווה מעידים כי האלימות גאתה ברחובות לפני הרצח בפיצרייה" ["It raged for hours": In Petah Tikva, violence erupted in the streets before the murder in the pizzeria]. Haaretz. 26 April 2026.
  14. ↑ "Israeli Arabs Warned About Violent Crime Spillover. Then Came the Independence Day Murder". Haaretz. 26 April 2026.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 "פרסום ראשון: אחד החשודים ברצח בפ"ת - בנו של בכיר במערכת הביטחון - וואלה חדשות" [First publication: One of the suspects in the murder in Petah Tikva is the son of a senior security official]. Walla (in Hebrew). 26 April 2026. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  16. ↑ "Israel: Six teenagers arrested after the murder of a pizzeria employee on Independence Day". i24NEWS. 25 April 2026. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 רובינשטיין, רועי; תמרי, לירן; לוקש, אלכסנדרה (26 April 2026). "התיעוד המזעזע מרצח בנימין ימנו זלקה בפיצרייה: הנערים הכו שוב ושוב, אחד ברח עם הסכין" [The shocking footage of the murder of Binyamin Yamanou Zalka in a pizzeria: The boys hit him repeatedly, one escaped with the knice]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  18. 1 2 "רצח ימנו זלקה ז"ל: "אין הרבה אנשים, בואו לחבק את המשפחה"" [Murder of Yamanu Zelka: "There aren't many people, let's hug the family"]. Channel 14 (in Hebrew). 26 April 2026. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  19. ↑ "'A truly good kid': Independence Day murder victim's family prays for justice". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  20. 1 2 גרינברג, הדס (26 April 2026). "פרטים חדשים מחקירת רצח בנימין ימנו זלקה: המשטרה מחזיקה בתיעוד של רגע התקיפה - 10 קטינים מעורבים" [New details from the investigation into the murder of Binyamin Yamno Zelka: Police have footage of the moment of the attack - 10 minors involved]. KAN (in Hebrew). Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Seven Teens Arrested on Suspicion of Stabbing Pizza Shop Worker to Death on Israel's Independence Day". Haaretz. 25 April 2026.
  22. ↑ Kadari-Ovadia, Shira (12 June 2026). "'The knife has become consensus': the teen violence epidemic keeping prosecutors up at night". Ynetglobal. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  23. ↑ Staff, ToI (5 June 2026). "Four minors charged over killing of 19-year-old Destao Tzakul in Beersheba in April". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  24. ↑ "At state memorial ceremony, Benjamin Netanyahu condemns racism against Ethiopians | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 14 May 2026. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  25. ↑ Summers, Charlie (5 May 2026). "One suspect in Zelka murder tells cops: 'Everyone was hitting him. What, should I stop?'". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  26. ↑ "Suspect in Petah Tikva murder is son of senior figure in defense establishment | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 26 April 2026. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  27. ↑ Summers, Charlie (5 May 2026). "One suspect in Zelka murder tells cops: 'Everyone was hitting him. What, should I stop?'". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  28. ↑ "חשוד נוסף נעצר; אחיו של ימנו לקיש: "ההורים אשמים אבל גם אתם" | חדשות 13". רשת 13 (in Hebrew). Retrieved 18 June 2026.
  29. 1 2 3 Summers, Charlie (10 May 2026). "Teen indicted for negligent murder in Yemanu Zelka's killing; 15 minors charged for assault". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  30. 1 2 3 "'They Will Kill Again' • Pizza Hut Murder Victim's Family Demands Harsher Charges Against Suspects Ahead of Sunday Indictment". Haaretz. 10 May 2026.
  31. ↑ רובינשטיין, רועי; גורדון, ליהיא (25 April 2026). "מאות קראו "כולנו ימנו", בן גביר: "שוטר בכל פיצרייה? אי אפשר": תיעוד החשוד עם הסכין" [Hundreds chanted "We all will," Ben Gvir: "A police officer in every pizzeria? Impossible": Documentation of the suspect with the knife]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  32. ↑ "המחווה המרגשת של פיצה האט לימנו זלקה ז"ל" [Pizza Hut's touching tribute to the late Zelka]. Israel Hayom. 27 April 2026.
  33. ↑ "Police arrest another teen suspect in Independence Day murder at Petah Tikva pizzeria". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  34. ↑ "The Only Certainty in Our Streets Is Death and the Deafening Silence Around It". Haaretz. 27 April 2026.
  35. ↑ Summers, Charlie; Staff, ToI (4 May 2026). "Likud activist, a convicted felon, tells Knesset panel that teens 'didn't mean to kill' pizza worker". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  36. ↑ "העבריין רפי קדושים בוועדה בכנסת: הנערים בפתח תקווה לא התכוונו להרוג, רק לדקור" [Offender Rafi Kedoshim in Knesset committee: The teenagers in Petah Tikva did not intend to kill, only to stab]. Haaretz. 4 May 2026.
  37. ↑ אטינגר, אמיר; אטינגר, אמיר (4 May 2026). "עבריין פעיל ליכוד בדיון בכנסת על אלימות בני נוער: "הם לא התכוונו להרוג, רק לדקור"" [Criminal Likud activist in Knesset debate on youth violence: "They didn't intend to kill, just stab"]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 13 May 2026.
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