Clan war in Ar'ara: Shooting at a family, gun aimed at police, and three defendants
The Southern District Attorney's Office has filed an indictment against three residents of Ar'ara in the Negev for weapons and violence offenses committed during a family conflict, including shooting at a vehicle and aiming a gun at police officers.
The Southern District Attorney's Office has filed an indictment in the Be'er Sheva District Court against 27-year-old Raem Al-Auka, 30-year-old Sami Al-Auka, and 18-year-old Khaled Al-Auka, residents of Ar'ara in the Negev, for a series of weapons and violence offenses allegedly committed as part of an ongoing conflict between two families in the town.
The indictment, filed by Adv. Noga Kidar, reveals that there is a long-standing conflict between the Al-Auka family and another family in Ar'ara. According to the allegations, after believing that members of the rival family had blocked a section of road, the defendants armed themselves with pistols and ammunition, some covering their faces with masks, and joined a convoy of vehicles traveling through the town's streets.
At that time, a YASAM (Special Patrol Unit) force noticed the convoy, which was driving recklessly, colliding with vehicles, throwing stones, and firing shots. The officers activated blue lights and sirens and began pursuing the vehicles.
According to the indictment, during the pursuit, Raem Al-Auka leaned out of the vehicle window and fired at another vehicle. Later, when the convoy reached an area where the defendants believed a road blockage was taking place, he continued to fire at people fleeing the scene. Afterward, the vehicle drove toward a police car, and Raem aimed the pistol at one of the officers. In response, one of the officers fired at the vehicle until it stopped.
Upon the vehicle's stop, the three defendants were arrested, but the incident did not end there. According to the indictment, gunfire and stone-throwing at the police began from several directions. Only after additional police forces arrived did the shooting cease, and a large crowd gathered. Under the cover of the commotion, the vehicle's driver escaped, and Raem Al-Auka also attempted to flee the scene.
During the searches, a pistol, two magazines, and ammunition were seized. It is further alleged that Raem removed the mask covering his face and threw it to the side of the road in an attempt to obstruct the investigation.
The indictment charges the three defendants with offenses of carrying and transporting weapons, firing from a firearm, and intentionally endangering human life on a transport route. Raem Al-Auka is additionally charged with obstructing the course of justice.
«The defendants acted as a group, set out in an organized convoy of vehicles, and carried out ramming and shooting from a moving vehicle at vehicles and people», — noted Adv. Kidar in the request for detention until the end of proceedings, stating that this demonstrates the high level of danger they pose.
