Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai on Wednesday ordered school sports facilities across the city off-limits until they can be inspected for safety.
The decision followed the death on Tuesday night of Alon Ronen, a 15-year-old boy, who was killed when a basketball hoop and backboard fell on him while he was playing with his friends at the Aviv School, in the Ramat Aviv neighborhood.
Israeli media reported Wednesday that government-ordered safety checks of facilities had not been carried out.
Ronen’s father called the death “a crime,” and said the municipality’s “shoddy actions” were being pushed under the rug.
Negligence in the safety upkeep of the city’s sports courts is being investigated as one of the possible causes.
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Huldai also ordered the establishment of an external team of safety experts to inspect the safety levels of education centers.
He noted that “the safety and security of youth and athletes is more important than the summer break.”
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