According to the indictment submitted Thursday to the Tel Aviv District Court, a 36-year-old Ramat Gan resident perpetrated two robberies approximately three weeks ago. The first incident took place at 6:06 a.m. at a convenience store on Derech Hashalom in Tel Aviv. As per the indictment, the defendant arrived at the location wearing a helmet and clutching a knife, approached the store employee who was standing by the register, and threatened him with the knife while demanding, "Open the register."

The employee, feeling threatened, opened the register, and the defendant took at least 1,000 shekels ($282) from it. Before fleeing, the defendant left a 20 shekel ($5.64) bill and told the employee, "Take it, it's not personal." Only six hours later, the defendant carried out a second robbery – this time at a kiosk on Uzi'el Street in Ramat Gan. The indictment details that the defendant arrived on his motorcycle, again wearing a helmet but this time holding a knife about 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) long. He entered the store, threatened the employee with the knife, and compelled him toward the register while issuing threats. The defendant opened the register himself and took about 700 shekels ($197) from it. When the employee attempted to restrain him, the defendant successfully escaped on his motorcycle.

The defendant was arrested the same day, and his remand has been extended numerous times since then. This occurred following the identification of the motorcycle's license plate and the recovery of the knife used by the defendant to execute the robbery – which was found protruding from his motorcycle seat. Furthermore, the clothes and helmet he wore during the robberies, along with 320 shekels ($90.24) in cash, were seized at his home. In his police interrogations, the defendant primarily chose to invoke his right to remain silent. Regarding the knife discovered on the motorcycle, he claimed that the police officers had planted it there, and he denied that the seized clothes were his.

The prosecution requested that the defendant remain in custody until the conclusion of proceedings, arguing that "such acts, which erode the public's sense of security, constitute a violation of property and carry the potential for physical harm to innocent individuals working for their livelihood". It was also noted that the defendant has four prior convictions for offenses involving violence, weapons, and drugs from the years 2006–2017, having served actual prison time for some of them.

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Video: A father and infant reunite in Ramat Gan following the barrage / Credit: Avi Cohen

These rescues echo similar efforts on Tuesday, when a direct missile strike hit a reinforced room in a Petach Tikva neighborhood filled with young families. Emergency teams worked in unison to breach apartments and evacuate trapped residents.

Snir Pdaida from the Israel Police, said, "We were tasked with clearing the neighboring building. Equipped with breaching tools and medical kits, our two teams went door-to-door, rescuing four infants held by their families, two elderly individuals unable to walk, and even frightened pets reunited with their owners."

Meir Baruch, another unit commander, noted, "Our volunteers saved two infants, 28 adults, and several pets, providing critical support until professional responders arrived."

Volunteer Moshe David Baruch shared a vivid memory: "I carried two infants, one in each arm. Below, a young girl was sobbing – I scooped her up and ran to safety. Those children will remain etched in my heart."

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Several members of the public were hurt on Sunday after a bomb detonated on a motorcycle in what appears to be an attempt to assassinate a person as part of gang feuds, or alternatively an accident by the would-be assassin.

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The motorcycle driver, a 28-year-old man, sustained severe wounds when the explosive device went off on Rashi Street in Ramat Gan, apparently while he was attempting to ignite it.

The injured man, who is known to the police investigating crime in the area, was taken to the Ichilov Hospital with serious injuries to his limbs. The passers-by who were injured suffered only minor wounds from shrapnel.

"We saw the motorcycle on the side of the sidewalk, with the rider, a 28-year-old man lying next to it. He was conscious and suffered severe injuries. We gave him life-saving medical treatment that included stopping the bleeding and placed a tourniquet, and we evacuated him to the Ichilov Hospital in critical condition," said two medics from the Magen David Adom first responder service who had arrived at the scene

The unusual event joins quite a few recent criminal events in the city. On Thursday, a pipe bomb exploded outside the door of an apartment, but ended without injuries. About a week ago, a shooting was reported on a different street for the third time that week.

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A black macaque monkey at the Ramat Gan Safari was injured Saturday by shrapnel from a rocket that was fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip and intercepted by Israel's air defenses.

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The safari veterinarians did not immediately realize what had caused the injury. Only after performing several X-rays did they realize the monkey had been hit by shrapnel.

Video: Ramat Gan Safari

The safari reported that the animal underwent surgery, the shrapnel was removed, and that the money was awake and under observation, with caretakers keeping close watch over her.

Rocket shrapnel also caused damage to the monkey area of the safari. Keepers stepped out of bomb shelters to move the monkeys into protected areas where they would be safe.

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There will be no fireworks on Independence Day eve in Ramat Gan this year, mayor Carmel Shama-Hacohen announced Wednesday morning, citing the negative impact they have on those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and pets.

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The municipality asked the residents whether they would support the cancelation and sent out a survey ahead of this year's celebrations, which take place next week. Of the 2,430 respondents, the vast majority, 2,159, supported the move.

"As a result of the negative impact [fireworks have] on shellshock victims and pets, and the residents' clear standing on the matter, there will be no fireworks this year, and most likely this will be in effect in the upcoming years as well," Shama-Hacohen wrote in a Facebook post.

The subject of fireworks constitutes a particularly painful one for Israelis who took part in wars or military operations. Pet owners support the cancellation as well, for dogs and cats get scared by the loud noises and flashing lights.

This year will not be the first time Ramat Gan cancels its fireworks celebrations. In 2020, the municipality canceled the fireworks due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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