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Yemanu Binyamin Zelka

Family members of Yemanu Zelka gather outside a court in Lod on May 10, 2026, where 16 teens have been charged in connection with his murder on Independence Day. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
May 10, 2026, 1:52 pm
Teen indicted for negligent murder in Yemanu Zelka’s killing; 15 minors charged for assault
Family of pizzeria worker killed on Independence Day decries decision to not file murder charges against all involved, says prosecution ‘enabling the next murder’
By Charlie Summers
Protesters gather outside a court in Petah Tikva, holding signs and calling for justice following the killing of Yemanu Zelka, a Pizza Hut employee who was stabbed to death on the eve of Independence Day, May 5, 2026. (Roy Alima/Flash90)
May 8, 2026, 12:51 pm
Police seek aggravated murder charge for main teen suspect in Yemanu Zelka killing
Cops say they’ll also recommend charges of joint enterprise murder, aggravated assault for several of other suspects in youths’ deadly stabbing of 21-year-old Pizza Hut employee
By ToI Staff
Yemanu Binyamin Zelka, who was stabbed and killed at his Pizza Hut job in the early hours of Independence Day. (Social media, undated; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
May 5, 2026, 10:52 am
One suspect in Zelka murder tells cops: ‘Everyone was hitting him. What, should I stop?’
Interrogators confront suspect with video of attack on 21-year-old pizzeria worker as he lay ‘in a pool of blood’; police say 19 suspects arrested
By Charlie Summers and ToI Staff
Rafi Chaim-Kedoshim attends a meeting of the Special Committee for Children’s Rights at the Knesset in Jerusalem, May 4, 2026 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
May 4, 2026, 3:06 pm
Likud activist, a convicted felon, tells Knesset panel that teens ‘didn’t mean to kill’ pizza worker
Rafi Kedoshim sparks outrage while speaking to committee about recent spate of teen violence and report showing surge in number of underage criminal suspects
By Charlie Summers and ToI Staff
A child walks in front of a memorial mural of Yemanu Zelka, who was stabbed to death in Petah Tikva on Independence Day a week earlier, Ashdod, April 28, 2026. (Liron Moldovan/Flash90)
April 29, 2026, 5:37 pm
Police arrest another teen suspect in Independence Day murder at Petah Tikva pizzeria
Arrest brings number of detained suspects to 11; primary suspect yet to face judge; Pizza Hut reportedly to continue paying victim Yemanu Zelka’s family
By Charlie Summers
People gather outside a Pizza Hut branch in Petah Tikva, lighting candles and placing flowers in memory of employee Yemanu Binyamin Zelka, who was stabbed and later died of his wounds on the eve of Independence Day, April 27, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
April 28, 2026, 4:25 pm
Independence Day killing puts spotlight on youth violence wracking Petah Tikva’s streets
Murder of Pizza Hut employee by gang of teens seen as part of larger trend of delinquent adolescents roving sidewalks and starting fights in central Israel city and beyond
By Charlie Summers
People gather outside a Pizza Hut branch in Petah Tikva, lighting candles and placing flowers in memory of employee Yemanu Binyamin Zelka, who was killed at the site days earlier, April 25, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
April 28, 2026, 3:06 pm
Police launch major operation to combat youth violence after deadly stabbings
Law enforcement to increase presence; controversial National Guard to be deployed in Tel Aviv; main suspect in Petah Tikva killing said to be refusing to cooperate with police
By Charlie Summers
The family of Yemanu Zelka speaks to the press outside the pizzeria where he worked, close to the site where numerous youths murdered him after his shift on Independence Day, in Petah Tikva, April 27, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/ Flash90)
April 28, 2026, 12:13 am
‘A truly good kid’: Independence Day murder victim’s family prays for justice
Teens who killed Yemanu Zelka for asking them not to use party spray in pizzeria are ‘professional criminals’ aided by parents, says victim’s sister; main suspect reportedly not talking
By Charlie Summers and ToI Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) meets in his office with Education Minister Yoav Kisch (left) and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir on April 26, 2026, to discuss the phenomenon of teen murders. (GPO)
April 26, 2026, 4:52 pm
Netanyahu vows police, education action following ‘heinous’ Petah Tikva killing
Israel Police chief: Stabbing of pizzeria worker by teens is ‘unpredictable incident’ that is hard to prevent; Bennett: ‘Epidemic of violence and murder’ being ignored
By Stav Levaton and Charlie Summers
The scene of a suspected murder-suicide in Aviel, a small moshav in central Israel, after a father and his son were found dead there on April 26, 2026. (Screenshot/Ynet)
April 26, 2026, 4:23 pm
Father, six-year-old son found dead in suspected murder-suicide
Officers suspect man used his father-in-law’s gun; separately, teen stabbed to death in north; police chief says cops can only do so much against ‘unexpected’ killings
By Charlie Summers
People gather outside a Pizza Hut branch in Petah Tikva, lighting candles and placing flowers in memory of employee Yemanu Binyamin Zelka, who was stabbed to death there, April 25, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
April 26, 2026, 12:48 am
Hundreds protest police inaction after pizzeria murder: ‘This is a wake-up call’
Teen suspected of murdering Pizza Hut worker in Petah Tikva caught on camera holding a knife covered in blood shortly after the Independence Day stabbing
By Rossella Tercatin and ToI Staff
People light candles and post messages outside a Pizza Hut in Petah Tikva, central Israel, on April 24, 2026, in memory of slain worker Yemanu Binyamin Zelka, 21, who was ambushed at the end of his shift on Independence Day night by a group of teens he had asked to stop using party spray in the restaurant. A picture of Zelka is captioned with Gen. 4:10, 'Your brother's blood cries out at me from the ground.' (Roy Alima/Flash90)
April 25, 2026, 1:47 pm
Seven teens arrested in connection with Independence Day murder of pizzeria worker
Suspects said to have acted like ‘veteran criminals’ in bid to avoid arrest after allegedly ambushing Yemanu Zelka, 21, for asking them to stop spraying party foam in Petah Tikva Pizza Hut
By ToI Staff
Yamenu Binyamin Zelka, who was stabbed to death at the Pizza Hut branch where he worked in Petah Tikva in the early hours of Independence Day, April 22, 2026. (Social media, undated; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
April 24, 2026, 2:29 pm
Pizzeria worker stabbed to death by teens on Independence Day after asking them not to use party spray
Yemanu Binyamin Zelka, 21, dies of wounds sustained at Petah Tikvah Pizza Hut; Family: He never did wrong by anyone; Boss: Everyone loved him; opposition points finger at police under Ben Gvir
By ToI Staff
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