As summer break just begins, a record number of drownings of children and teenagers continues to surge; BeTerem child safety organization presents alarming data to the Knesset’s Interior and Environmental Protection Committee discussion and calls for action.
Nine children and teenagers died by drowning in the first half of 2026, compared to just two children during the same period last year - nearly a five-fold increase, even before summer vacation officially began, according to the data presented late June by the BeTerem Organization of Child Safety to the Knesset’s Interior and Environmental Protection Committee.
Dramatic surge in drownings at Israeli beaches, rivers; child safety organization calls for policy action
Since the data was presented, an additional three teenagers died drowning; one boy in Kibbutz Palmachim, and two girls in the Jordan River.
Additional data presented during the discussion with the Knesset’s Interior and Environmental Protection Committee revealed that only a small portion of Israel’s coastline is officially authorized and regulated for swimming, while large sections are either prohibited for swimming or simply classified as “no defined status.”
This status and lack of guarded beaches misrepresent a reality where civilians swim in these beaches. This policy ignorance creates significant safety gaps for Israel’s bathing public in general, and in particular for children and teenagers.
“I am calling on the committee and policymakers to advance a series of national measures to reduce drowning incidents. To prevent the next tragedy demands simultaneous action on several fronts: adapt the Swimming Lessons Law to today’s reality, regulate bathing beaches, extend the operating hours of rescue services, establish a national drowning registry, and increase public awareness campaigns,” BeTerem head Ayelet Givati stated.
“Children often drown outside of swimming hours, even on authorized beaches, and some authorities have already proven it is possible to extend swimming hours for these beaches, adapting the service to public needs. These are life-saving steps that could prevent the next tragedy.”
2026 could end with unprecedented number of drownings
Magen David Adom warned that since the start of the swimming season, its teams have administered medical treatment to dozens of people who drowned at sea beaches, pools and other bodies of water.
The data suggests that if the current trend continues, 2026 could end with an unprecedented number of both non-fatal and fatal drowning incidents among children and teenagers.
As it does every year, the Health Ministry published its guidelines for water safety and drowning prevention, encouraging parents to enroll their children in swimming lessons and teach kids safety around water from a young age.
Additionally, the ministry advised against giving flotation rings to infants, as they risk drowning because of their center of gravity.
It is permitted to allow more mature children into the water independently only after they can demonstrate full water adequacy. However, until then, children must be accompanied by supervisors in the water at all times.