Shark spotted off the coast of Bat Yam, authorities close beaches

9 October 2025, 12:50 pm

Edit

After reports of a shark sighting, authorities closed the Bat Yam beaches in central Israel, Hebrew media reports.

Today’s sighting is the third in two weeks, with reports of a shark spotted off the coast of Ashkelon yesterday and in Ashdod, south of Bat Yam, on September 26. It is unclear if the sightings are of the same shark.

In April, a man was killed in a shark attack off the coast of Hadera, the third recorded shark attack in Israel to date.

Following that attack, the Nature and Parks Authority said it “repeats its warning… against interacting with sharks. We again call on the public not to approach the sharks as they are protected animals.”