The United Torah Judaism party has attributed the recent tragedy at an overcrowded, unlicensed daycare in Jerusalem to the government’s decision to cut subsidies for families of individuals who avoid military service. The incident resulted in the deaths of two babies and injuries to 55 other children in the Haredi-majority Romema neighborhood.

In an official statement, the party argued that repeated warnings about the consequences of these financial cuts were ignored, leading to severe overcrowding in daycare centers as families struggled to afford proper childcare. The party also suggested that the High Court of Justice and the Attorney General bear responsibility for the situation, following their rulings and instructions that led to the subsidy reductions.

The cuts came after a court decision that declared exemptions from military service for the ultra-Orthodox community illegal, prompting budget reductions for religious schools and the removal of daycare support for affected families.