Death toll rises in Nazareth extended family shooting; motive unknown

Bringing the death toll in the incident to four, a man died Tuesday evening of wounds he sustained when another man allegedly shot several members of his own extended family in Nazareth, before fatally turning the gun on himself.

Police said they do not know why the suspect, identified as a resident of Iksal in his 30s, opened fire.

In addition to the suspected shooter, two men were declared dead earlier in the day.

The victims were reportedly the suspect’s brother-in-law, and the brother-in-law’s brother and uncle, who had been gathered at the suspect’s sister’s house.

The suspect’s sister and mother were both injured in the shooting. The sister was in serious condition, and the mother was moderately wounded.

The Abraham Initiatives coexistence organization, which tracks crime statistics, said 49 Arabs have been killed since the start of the year, outpacing 2023’s record-setting bloodletting.

Last year had been the bloodiest year on record in the Arab community, with 244 victims of violence, more than double the figure in 2022.

Many Arab Israeli community leaders put the blame on the police, who they say have failed to crack down on powerful criminal organizations and largely ignore the violence, which includes family feuds, mafia turf wars and violence against women.

The communities have also suffered from years of neglect by state authorities.