Israel reports 75 child drownings in 2026 swimming season; MDA urges vigilance

Magen David Adom treated 287 drowning victims during the April-October swimming season, with 26 declared dead at the scene and 32 hospitalized; 75 of the deceased were children under 19. The high child mortality rate highlights a recurring public-safety issue, though the report lacks comparative data to assess whether this season is worse than prior years.