Protesters decry ‘lack of punishment’ in charges against Yemanu Zelka murder suspects

Protesters outside the Lod District Court are demonstrating against the indictments filed against 16 minors suspected of involvement in Yemanu Zelka’s killing on Independence Day, insisting the charges have been watered down.

“A life sentence is what all of these criminals deserve,” one protest organizer says, before leading the crowd in a chant: “Justice for Yemanu!”

A protester holds a sign that reads: “Lack of punishment will cost in the blood of our children.”

Zelka, a 21-year-old Pizza Hut employee, was ambushed and stabbed on the holiday outside his workplace in Petah Tikva by a group of teenage boys, then left to bleed out on the ground. He died of his wounds in the hospital a day later.

The 15-year-old suspected of carrying out the stabbing was charged with negligent murder, while the other fifteen defendants were charged with causing serious bodily harm with intent. Police had sought the harsher charge of aggravated murder.

Protesters outside courthouse in Lod demand murder charges for all those involved in the killing of Yemanu Zelka, after indictments filed against sixteen suspects pic.twitter.com/2Yo6EVBXhm

— charlie summers (@cbsu03) May 10, 2026