Four young children were hospitalized Thursday evening after suddenly becoming ill and losing consciousness near a residential building in Jerusalem’s Mekor Baruch neighborhood, prompting an emergency hazardous materials response.

The children—a one-year-old boy, a one-year-old girl, a three-year-old boy, and a three-year-old girl—were transported to Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center after suffering weakness and episodes of unconsciousness.

Following the incident, Israel Fire and Rescue Services dispatched a specialized hazardous materials (HazMat) monitoring team to the scene to determine whether dangerous substances may have caused the children to become ill.

Firefighters conducted extensive tests inside and around the building to detect the possible presence of hazardous materials. The cause of the incident remains under investigation.

Hadassah Medical Center said the four children, two pairs of siblings ages one and three, had been playing in a garden near their home before becoming ill.

Hospital officials said the children arrived at the pediatric emergency department drowsy and displaying signs of weakness and lethargy.

“All four are fully conscious, accompanied by their parents, and will be admitted for observation,” the hospital said.

Magen David Adom said it first received a report at 5:52 p.m. regarding two children who had become ill near the residential building. At 6:39 p.m., a second call reported that two additional children at the same location were experiencing similar symptoms.

Paramedics treated all four children at the scene before transporting them to Hadassah Ein Kerem for further evaluation.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the mysterious incident.

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