The tragedy that struck the home of the Gross family of the Givat Mordechai neighborhood of Yerushalayim occurred 20 months ago. When an exterminator used a toxic pesticide it led to the hospitalization of the family’s four children. The girls, Yael and Avigail died as a result. B’chasdei Hashem the boys survived after extensive hospitalization and aggressive medical intervention.

The incident led to an outcry, a demand for increased regulation, and those shouts were met with government promises to act to ensure such a tragedy never occurs again.

The parents have since filed an NIS 11 million lawsuit against the exterminator and a number of government agencies towards compelling a change in the system.

A Walla News report involving hidden cameras shows that nothing has changed. After 20 months, exterminators are still seen using toxic gas to exterminate a home, adding the use of a pesticide in gas form is illegal. However, there is no enforcement. Walla ordered an exterminator to its ‘home’ that was set up for purpose of the report. The exterminator used illegal substances and after environmental police arrived to inspect the scene, summoned by Walla, it was learned the exterminator was unlicensed.

Prior to spreading plastic sheeting to cover portions of the kitchen he assured the family that the fumigation he was about to do was perfectly safe and there was no cause for concern.

When confronted by the environmental inspector the exterminator insisted that he is licensed to perform his work and also insisted there was no safety hazard associated with fumigating the kitchen as he was planning to do.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)