Father and son murdered in Nazareth amid surging Arab community violence
Police hunt suspects as separate central Israel shooting leaves man moderately wounded; watchdog says record 247 Arabs killed in violent crimes so far this year
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Police launched an investigation into a double homicide in Nazareth after two men were shot and killed in the city Saturday night.
Medics arrived at the scene of the shooting to find the victims badly wounded by gunfire and without any signs of life, Magen David Adom said in a statement, and they pronounced the two dead on the spot.
Hebrew media reports identified the victims as Khaled Majid Mahajneh, 49, and Majd Badir Mahajneh, 22, father and son from Yafa an-Naseriyye, a northern Arab town located near Nazareth.
Footage reportedly from the incident circulating online shows the two men walking down the street as assailants run after them from behind and open fire at close range.
The gunmen then flee the scene moments later, leaving the victims mortally wounded.
Police said they were searching for suspects after receiving a report of the incident.
יורים מטווח אפס ומוודאים הריגה: תיעוד הרצח הכפול בנצרת
(אורלי אלקלעי) pic.twitter.com/g6fDBZEn1j— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) December 20, 2025
Shortly after the Nazareth shooting, another shooting was reported in the central Israel town of Taybeh, where a 31-year-old local resident was wounded, Hebrew media reported. The man was evacuated in moderate condition to a nearby hospital, while police opened an investigation and began searching the area for suspects.
A violent crime wave that has been besetting Arab society in recent years has now claimed 247 victims since the start of 2025, based on data from the Abraham Initiatives watchdog, making this year the deadliest on record for Israel’s Arab minority. According to the group, 20 of those killed this year were residents of Nazareth.
Earlier this week, 43-year-old Mahmoud Akkawi was killed in his home in Tamra, a northern Arab city.
He was ambushed by unknown assailants who followed him home just before midnight, according to Ynet. Once he was at the door of his house, they opened fire and killed him on the spot.
Police launched an investigation into the shooting but have not yet arrested any suspects.
The Times of Israel Community.