Deadly Feuds Rock Israel: Three Killed Overnight

Israel Police confirmed that three people were fatally shot, or otherwise killed, in separate incidents within a few hours between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

Authorities report each killing stems from criminal rivalries or internal family disputes.

First Incident: Jaffa Cafe Shooting

The violence began in Jaffa on Tuesday evening when a man in his 50s was fatally shot while sitting in a local café.

Emergency responders found him slumped near the restaurant with multiple gunshot wounds.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim, identified by the advocacy group Abraham Initiatives as Assad Kabha, was reportedly smoking hookah when someone approached and fired four bullets from close range.

Police believe the killing stems from organized crime. Tensions flared further when, at Wolfson Medical Center, where Kabha’s body was taken, family members clashed with officers, vowing that his blood “will not be spilled in vain.”

Second Incident: Streambed Discovery

Less than an hour later, the body of a woman was discovered in a dried streambed along Route 80 near Ararat an-Naqab in southern Israel.

Authorities suspect the killing was the result of a family dispute, noting she may have been shot.

Police have arrested four relatives believed to be involved: her son, brother, and two other family members.

Third Incident: Lod Car Shooting

Then, early Wednesday morning around 6:30 a.m., a man in his 30s was shot dead while parked in a car in the central city of Lod.

Police linked this killing to an ongoing feud among Arab crime groups in the area.

The victim was later named by Abraham Initiatives as Suleiman Abu Ghanem.

Additional Violence and Rising Toll

In a separate incident in Baqa al-Gharbiyye, a man in his 40s sustained serious to moderate gunshot wounds in what police again described as a crime-related feud.

Collectively, these events pushed 2025’s death toll in the Arab Israeli community to at least 146, according to Abraham Initiatives.

Abraham Initiatives is a watchdog focusing on violence in Arab communities across Israel.

Of these fatalities, 124 were shooting-related.

The grim figure includes an individual who succumbed to injuries after being shot in Haifa and a man in his 60s killed during last Saturday’s shooting in Jaffa.

Many families and community leaders harshly criticize Israeli police for failing to solve the majority of these cases, arguing the investigation rate remains low.

Community Concerns Over Law Enforcement Response

Arab community representatives say most murders go unpunished, and they point to insufficient cooperation between police and local leaders. They argue that investigations focus more on political matters than coordinated community-level crime prevention.

This surge in violence contrasts sharply with the relative calm previously seen in many Arab-majority towns.

Although pockets of organized crime and clan-related disputes have persisted for years.

Analysts warn the ongoing trend reflects broader issues: youth alienation, weak policing in Arab neighborhoods, and the absence of holistic social and economic interventions.

What It Means Going Forward

• Deepening Urban Crime: The homicide rate among Arab Israelis is unprecedented, with shootings now commonplace, even in cities not traditionally associated with such violence.

• Pressure on Authorities: Community leaders demand more aggressive police action, transparency in investigations, and stronger partnerships with local Arab politicians.

• Criminal Networks: Government reports suggest an expanding influence of organized crime within Arab towns, often involving clashes over territory, retribution for attacks, or inter-family power struggles.

• Policy Focus: Many advocates believe law enforcement should adopt new strategies, like specialized crime units focused on Arab communities and initiatives to address unemployment and social exclusion among young people.

As police continue probing the recent deaths, public confidence remains fragile.

The lack of swift justice has prompted appeals for urgent reforms to reduce bloodshed and rebuild trust.

Looking Ahead

Israel’s Arab minority, making up roughly 20% of the population, is facing a summer marked by violence and grief.

Unless police performance improves and community ties are strengthened, experts warn the cycle of shootings and unsolved murders may deepen.

With this escalation, there is growing momentum behind calls for comprehensive action: Deploying targeted task forces, enhancing intelligence-sharing between police and local authorities, and implementing youth engagement programs to curtail crime.

Without immediate reforms, the crisis risks evolving into a broader national security concern.

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