About three weeks ago, a baby arrived at Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheva in serious condition - and was later pronounced dead.
The family contacted Yehuda Mesika, deputy head of the ZAKA team in Dimona, a few days ago, and said that the toddler had not yet been released for burial. The family was referred to the ZAKA legal department for treatment.
Rabbi Snir Elmaleh of ZAKA's legal department filed an urgent request to the Beer Sheva Magistrate's Court - demanding that the toddler's body be released for immediate burial.
The police objected and requested additional tests. Their request was granted without a hearing.
ZAKA petitioned and requested a hearing on the grounds that the police intentionally concealed the position of the Institute of Forensic Medicine, and since the required tests have already been performed, there is no reason to release the toddler's body for burial.
As a result, an urgent hearing was scheduled.
This morning (Thursday), immediately after the hearing began, the police announced that they were withdrawing their objection and agreeing to the release of the body as requested by ZAKA.
The court held a hearing in which it ordered the baby's immediate release for burial.
In his remarks, Judge Amichai Habibiyan thanked the ZAKA representative for his assistance and standing by the family during their difficult time.
Rabbi Snir Elmaleh, Chief Justice of the Legal Department of the ZAKA: "I said the same thing during the hearing and I say it now too – this is an unnecessary and very unfortunate delay. It is not possible for a family to wait for weeks to bury their loved one, when the process could have been advanced much earlier. It is a pity that only following the request for a hearing and the presentation of the matter to the court, did the police decide to back down and allow the release.""
Michael Gutwin, coordinator of the legal department at ZAKA: "This is a very sensitive and complex case. From the moment the request was received, we acted decisively with all parties, to bring the process to a quick conclusion and allow for a dignified burial. It is our mission to stand by the families in the most difficult moments.""
