3 killed in East Jerusalem shootings, 2 by cops, amid apparent family dispute

Three people were shot and killed in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan late Saturday night, two of them by the police, in an incident that the Israel Police said was sparked by a “family conflict.”

According to reports in Hebrew and Arabic media, the first victim, identified as Essam al-Awar, was shot and killed by a member of the Abbasi family over a reported dispute between the two families.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by Magen David Adom medics, who said that another individual was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.

Following the initial shooting, younger members of the Awar family attempted to set fire to homes belonging to the Abbasi family in an apparent act of revenge, reports said, using Molotov cocktails and fireworks. The assailants were also carrying firearms, according to Channel 12, which said that several shots were fired at or near homes in the area.

Police then arrived at the scene of the attack and shot two more members of the Awar family, identified by the Haaretz newspaper as Ahmed al-Awar and Khalil al-Awar.

Local sources told the Ma’an news agency that the two individuals killed by police were a father and son. None of the victim’s ages were immediately reported.

مصادر صحفية| مقتل عصام ونجله خليل و أحمد الأعور بشجار دامي في بلدة سلوان في القدس pic.twitter.com/Qpz2AmC4U7

— الجرمق الإخباري (@aljarmaqnet) August 23, 2026

According to police, security forces who arrived on the scene after the first man was killed “identified two suspects who posed a real threat to their lives, holding weapons and Molotov cocktails.”

“A shot was fired at them to neutralize the danger and as a result, they were pronounced dead on the spot,” the statement said.

Officers at the scene also fired smoke grenades in an attempt to subdue the chaos, and were able to restore order after a short time, reports said,

Police added that the initial shooting is being investigated as a homicide.