Rare grenade surfaces in the heart of the gang war in the north
The Soviet munition seized in a police raid in Nazareth dates back to the Cold War era. Today, it is being used by criminal organizations in the north as part of a deadly conflict that has already claimed 30 lives.
In the last month, a Soviet RGD-5 grenade was found at the heart of the crime scene in Nazareth. The grenade, known for its compact steel structure, was discovered wrapped in plastic to protect the firing mechanism and was seized during operational activity by investigators and detectives of the Amakim District.
The grenade, designed in the Soviet Union in the 1950s and used by Warsaw Pact armies, has since sown death on many battlefields — from the Vietnam War in the mid-20th century to the war in Ukraine today.
Amakim District Police Commander, Colonel Ran Ofir, explains how the rare grenade reached the Galilean city: "We are seeing the entry of new munitions into the arena." He adds: "We are aware of this and are focusing on operational and intelligence activity. As of today, it is not yet a widespread and intensive phenomenon, but we are preparing for any scenario."
The seizure of Soviet grenades is a drop in the ocean of weapons in the hands of criminals in the north; in the last month alone, there has been a surge in the number of weapons seized by Amakim District police officers. The list of weapons recently confiscated in Nazareth and its surroundings includes: 12 pistols, 3 "Carlo" submachine guns, 5 hand grenades, including the three Soviet ones, and dozens of magazines in addition to large quantities of loose ammunition.
A transition period without an operating manual
Senior police official: "We are taking down the 'big guns' and continuing to harvest the younger tier"
Behind the wave of seizures in Nazareth lies a dramatic shift in the local crime map. The Bakri organization is considered one of the strongest and most violent in the north. The organization was severely crippled following the arrests of its leader, Samir Bakri, and others. The group engaged in extortion, protection rackets, and the trade of weapons and drugs, while seizing tenders and budgets from the Nazareth municipality worth hundreds of millions of shekels. About five years ago, a deadly conflict broke out between them and the Hariri organization, and the war has claimed over 30 lives. With the arrest of Samir Bakri and others, along with the filing of indictments, the organization's leadership was paralyzed and its funding mechanisms were severely damaged.
"Nazareth, as a central city in Arab society, currently receives very special attention at the national level," explains Colonel Ofir. "Following the instructions of the Police Commissioner and the District Commander, Major General Meir Eliyahu, there is a massive reinforcement of forces here. It is not just presence on the ground, but precise intelligence focus, the use of special means, and elite units working in close coordination. When this combination works, tremendous pressure is created on criminal organizations."
This reality has created a crime vacuum in the field, into which new forces are trying to enter: sub-organizations and criminals seeking to take advantage of the situation to seize territory. "We are acting according to the District Commander's strategy—we are taking down the 'big guns' and continuing to harvest the younger tier," explains Ofir.
However, the police clarify that the struggle in Nazareth is far from over. "The moment new elements enter and try to take over territories or carry out criminal acts, we are there to deliver the blow. All the little guys who try to rise up within this vacuum encounter district and national pressure, and we manage to harvest them on an almost daily basis." The District Police state they will continue to exert intelligence and operational pressure to prevent a new generation of criminals from gaining a foothold in Nazareth.
