Bystander, assailant killed after armed motorcyclists open fire on jeep on main highway
Police say incident tied to dispute between rival Arab clans; soldiers responding to incident fatally shoot assailant as his accomplice flees on motorcycle, is later arrested
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A pair of armed motorcyclists opened fire on a jeep in central Israel, injuring two passengers in what police suspect was a targeted ambush linked to rival gangs in Arab society.
One of the assailants was shot dead at the scene by soldiers who believed the shooting to be a terror attack, Hebrew media outlets reported. A bystander unrelated to the criminal dispute was killed by a stray bullet.
Police were reportedly examining whether the bystander was shot by the pair of criminals or by soldiers responding to the incident.
Footage from the incident showed two men on a motorcycle accelerating toward a jeep on Route 443 north of Modiin, then proceeding to open fire on its passengers.
The jeep continued down the road even after several bullets had struck its windshield, with the attackers following close behind. After his accomplice was shot, the other motorcyclist fled eastward and was soon arrested by police.
The initial shooting injured two men, both men in their 40s, who were taken to nearby hospitals in serious condition, Magen David Adom paramedics said.
תיעוד מטורף של החיסול על כביש 443 ליד יער בן שמן: קטנוע עם 2 נוסעים פותח באש לעבר הג'יפ.
2 הרוגים ועוד 2 פצועים קשה.
טירוף בלב הארץ ליד נהגים חפים מפשע.שיא של כל הזמנים במקרי רצח. עידן המשילות של בן גביר בשיאה. pic.twitter.com/jrxiH4Nnfs
— Josh Breiner (@JoshBreiner) October 15, 2025
Police launched an investigation into the incident and announced, based on initial findings, that it was linked to a violent dispute in the Arab sector. Those involved reportedly belonged to rival factions of the Abu Qatifan crime family based out of Lod.
Law enforcement blocked Route 443 to traffic in both directions and cordoned off the scene of the shooting. The investigation was assigned to the Central District police’s investigations and intelligence unit.
Israel Police chief Danny Levy made his way to the scene of the incident, an uncommon occurrence for Israel’s top officer.
The proliferation of violent crime has for years been plaguing Arab locales in Israel. Since the start of the year, 204 Arab citizens have been violently killed, the vast majority in shooting incidents.
Earlier Wednesday morning, a 35-year-old school security guard was shot dead in the northern town of Kafr Yasif.
The victim, named by Arabic outlets as Nidal Masada, 35, was found in critical condition by paramedics and transported to Nahariya’s Galilee Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The shooting moderately wounded one other person, a man in his 70s. He was taken to the hospital and treated for his injuries.
The Times of Israel Community.