Arab Communities in Israel Pass 201 Homicides for Fourth Consecutive Year
Homicides in Arab communities in Israel surpass 200 for the fourth consecutive year, reaching 201 following fatal shootings in Tira and Kafr Manda.
Wave of violent crime across Arab communities in Israel has claimed over 200 lives for the fourth consecutive year, reaching 201 homicides following two fatal incidents on Saturday. A man in his fifties was shot dead in Tira, hours after Lina Qassem (Zidan) was killed in Kafr Manda when a hand grenade was hurled into a local confectionery shop.
The shooting in Tira was reported to the Magen David Adom emergency dispatch at 21:12. Paramedics arrived at the scene to find an unconscious man suffering from penetrating trauma. Despite immediate resuscitation efforts, he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital, marking the 201st homicide in the Arab sector this year.
The soaring crime rates in Arab society have seen a sharp escalation since 2023, driven by blood feuds, violent organized crime turf wars, clan conflicts, and domestic violence. The grim statistics have left grieving families demanding action and security from authorities.
Samir Zidan, brother of victim Lina Qassem, shared his devastation with the press, noting that his sister was the sole provider for her family, including a disabled husband and five children. "Lina was a hardworking woman who only wanted to buy a birthday gift for her son," he said. Another grieving relative, Sand Mansour from Tira, whose mother was murdered by his father, expressed his anguish: "My father killed my mother and left me without the most precious thing in my life."
Fathers and spouses who lost their loved ones echoed the despair, pointing to the relentless cycle of violence. "I buried my son with my own hands; no father should ever go through this nightmare," said Abed Shaqra from Tel Aviv-Jaffa, whose son Ahmed was murdered.
