Three Arab Israelis were killed in three separate incidents on Sunday, as a wave of gang-related violence continues to plague the community.
Early Sunday morning, a man identified in media reports as Muhammad Abu Rabia was fatally shot in the northern town of Reineh. Later that evening, a 23-year-old man from Yarka, named Haitham Amoun, was shot and killed in the northern Druze village. Authorities revealed that his father and brother were also victims of gang-related murders, in 2023 and 2020 respectively. Police indicated that this killing might be part of an ongoing conflict between crime gangs.
Just hours later, a man in his 30s was shot in the central Israeli city of Lod. Although paramedics rushed him to Shamir Medical Center, he succumbed to his injuries. An investigation into his death is underway.
The Abraham Initiatives, a coexistence advocacy group that tracks violence in Arab communities, reported that 68 Arabs have been killed in incidents of violent crime so far this year. Their year-end report from 2023 indicated a record-high number of Arab murders, attributing much of the violence to failures in law enforcement and policy. Many point fingers at far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who has been convicted of incitement to racism and supporting a terror organization. His ministry is responsible for policing, and critics say it has failed to address the rise in gang-related crime.
Arab Israeli community leaders argue that the police have failed to tackle powerful criminal organizations, often neglecting violence stemming from family feuds, mafia turf wars, and violence against women. They also highlight years of systemic neglect by the state, leading to impoverished conditions in Arab-majority areas. More than half of Arab Israelis live below the poverty line, and their towns often suffer from deteriorating infrastructure and inadequate public services.
Authorities have suggested that organized crime and an increase in weapons play a role in the violence, but some also point to the lack of cooperation from communities in rooting out criminal elements.
Overall, these incidents reflect a troubling trend of violence within Arab Israeli communities, with many calling for greater action from the government and law enforcement to stem the tide of crime.
