A newly opened restaurant in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon has been destroyed in what authorities suspect was arson. The Tree, which had only been operating for around a month, was engulfed in flames overnight, with the fire spreading to neighbouring businesses and causing significant damage to the surrounding area. Firefighters responded to the scene but were unable to prevent the total destruction of the establishment. The rapid spread of the blaze to adjacent shops has raised concerns about the safety of the commercial district and prompted an investigation into the cause of the fire. Police are treating the incident as suspected arson and have launched a formal inquiry. The loss represents a significant setback for the restaurant’s owners, who had recently invested in opening the venue in what had been anticipated as a promising new addition to Ashkelon’s dining scene.

Source: Maariv — Original article in Hebrew.