Grenade attacks across Israel target sushi chain in escalating feud between crime families

One lightly hurt in south Tel Aviv attack, with several bombings and shootings targeting Japanika, which is owned by Barak Abramov, thought to be tied to Jarushi gang

By ToI Staff 14 July 2026, 1:10 pm
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Firefighters put out a blaze sparked by a grenade attack on a branch of Japanika in Afula, July 14, 2026 (Israel Fire and Rescue Services); the aftermath at the scene (Social media, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

A series of grenade attacks and shootings overnight at a number of locations across Israel, some of them targeting branches of the Japanika sushi chain, are part of an escalating conflict between the Jarushi and Musli crime families, according to reports on Tuesday.

There have been around 15 grenade attacks over the past week, with one person lightly injured on Monday in south Tel Aviv in one of the explosions.

The Japanika chain is owned by Barak Abramov, who also owns the Beitar Jerusalem soccer team.

According to Walla, Abramov was initially seen as being close to the Musli family but is now thought to be tied to the Jarushi family.

“It’s enough to say good morning to someone, and the other side will throw a grenade at your home,” an underworld source told Channel 12 news. “There is a fear that this is just the beginning, and it may end in assassinations.”

Overnight alone, at least eight grenade attacks were reported, in addition to shootings and a pipe bombing.

Two of the attacks were in Tel Aviv, one of which caused the injury.

Medics who arrived at the scene of the explosion in Kfar Shalem, a neighborhood on the city’s southeastern outskirts, took the injured man to the hospital.

Later Tuesday, Police announced the arrest of a suspected in some of the attacks.

The suspect, a resident of Tel Aviv in his 40s, was interrogated by police investigators and will be brought Wednesday to the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court for a remand hearing.

Additional arrests are expected, police said.

The Musli family rose to power in Kfar Shalem and the nearby Hatikva neighborhood, and is one of the last remaining Jewish crime families in Israel. The Arab Jarushi family is also based in the center of the country.

The second explosion was also caused by a grenade, police said, adding that it did not result in any injuries.

Officers and bomb disposal experts from the South Tel Aviv police station were present at both crime scenes and collecting evidence.

Grenade attacks were then reported in Herzliya and Ness Ziona, causing damage to property but no injuries.

A short time later, three branches of the Japanika sushi chain — in Afula, Kiryat Ono and Netanya — were attacked, and then an eighth attack took place in Rishon Lezion.

Police said some of the attacks appeared to have used grenades stolen from the IDF.

In addition to grenade attacks, suspected gunfire was directed at the Japanika in Herzliya on Tuesday morning and at a Givatayim branch on Monday night.

A pipe bomb also exploded next to a Ramat Gan branch on Monday night.

The attacks came amid a violent crime crisis that has especially plagued Israel’s Arab community, but has also spilled over into other parts of society.

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