25-year-old shot dead in Umm al-Fahm, becoming year’s 66th Arab homicide victim

Two young Arab Israeli men were shot in the northern town of Umm al-Fahm earlier tonight, with one of them — a 25-year-old — succumbing to his wounds shortly thereafter, police confirm.

Police say they have launched an investigation into the incident, with the background apparently criminal. No arrests have been made.

With this man’s death, a total of 66 members of the Arab community have fallen prey to homicide in Israel since the start of the year, according to the Abraham Initiatives, which tracks Arab sector homicides. Last year was the deadliest on record for the minority, with 252 crime-related deaths throughout all of 2025.

Local politicians and religious figures have denounced the crime sweeping their communities, but most place blame on law enforcement, accusing police of neglecting to solve homicides when the victims are Arab.