Man charged with murder for Ofakim stabbing last month

The State Attorney’s Office charges a man with murder for the lethal stabbing of Mar’i al-Dabari last month in Ofakim.

The defendant, 20-year-old Qusai Jaradat, is accused of stabbing Dabari with his pocket knife shortly after a brawl broke out between the two on April 5.

Prosecutors say that Dabari, a 36-year-old from the Bedouin town of Segev Shalom, traveled with his friend that afternoon to Ofakim, where Jaradat lives. The two men, who had a prior acquaintance, encountered each other in the city and soon became embroiled in a physical fight.

Onlookers managed to break up the brawl and Dabari drove off with his friend, but Jaradat allegedly pursued them, following them into a shopping center parking lot where the fight resumed.

Dabari’s friend grabbed him and guided him back to their car while telling the defendant that they weren’t “looking for problems,” prosecutors write.

Jaradat nevertheless lunged at Dabari, stabbing him in the chest and thigh, then fled the scene, according to the indictment.

Dabari’s friend rushed him to a nearby gas station, where he phoned emergency medical services, but was pronounced dead on the scene by medics.

Prosecutors request to keep Jaradat in custody until the end of legal proceedings against him.