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Father from East Jerusalem charged with kidnapping his children – Crime in Israel

Prosecutors filed charges in the Jerusalem District Court on Thursday against an East Jerusalem father who allegedly kidnapped his estranged wife's children and hid them in the Shuafat refugee camp. Amal Karakesh Adkidak and her son Riyad Adkidak, also residents of Jerusalem, were also charged with involvement in the abduction and hiding of the children in their home.

According to the indictment filed by the Jerusalem District Prosecutor's Office, the defendant (the father) is in the process of divorcing the plaintiff, with whom he has two children. The Sharia court had ruled that the children should always remain in the plaintiff's care, except for a few hours on Saturdays. At the time, the defendant was also under house arrest.

Kidnapping plans

The accused decided to kidnap his children indefinitely and hand them over to Amal, whom he knew from his work at a Jerusalem shopping mall, and Riyad, whom he knew only casually. About a week after the kidnapping, police forces rescued the children from the refugee camp and returned them to their mother. During the operation, stones and glass bottles were thrown at the police officers, injuring one officer.

The indictment accuses the father of crimes including kidnapping from custody, hiding an abducted person, leaving a child unattended, violating a court order, providing false information and obstruction of justice. Amal and Riyad are also charged with kidnapping from custody and hiding an abducted person.

Police rescue young children from Shuafat camp in East Jerusalem, August 7, 2024. (Source: ALON HACHMON/MAARIV)

The public prosecutor has requested that all three remain in custody until the end of the proceedings.



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