Following the drowning of a toddler in Ashkelon on Thursday, the Beterem child safety organization reports that 18 children and teens have drowned so far in 2026 — a 5.5-fold increase from the same period last year. The organization notes that half of all drowning victims in the past five years were toddlers up to age 4.
The Beterem organization this evening highlighted the ongoing child drowning crisis, citing the 5.5-fold increase in drowning deaths since the start of the year after a toddler drowned in Ashkelon. As The Zioneer reported on August 4, the data showing 18 child drownings in 2026 was already published, but the new incident brings renewed attention to the trend. Beterem stresses that half of all drowning victims in the past five years were toddlers under age 4, underscoring the vulnerability of young children around water.
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