Off-duty soldier said to be arrested on suspicion of murder

Police are reportedly investigating a soldier who was arrested on suspicion of murder after he allegedly shot and killed a man from Daliyat al-Karmel, a Druze town, while traveling in northern Israel.

The 19-year-old off-duty soldier was arrested by police with his brother last night after the highway shooting, which took place on Route 6. They both reside in Afula, Walla reports.

According to the outlet, the soldier is suspected of murder, while his 21-year-old brother is being probed on suspicion of conspiring to commit a crime. Police are expected to request a 10-day extension on the remand of both.

The Military Police have launched a joint investigation with the Israel Police, the IDF says, adding that “from an initial examination, it seems an off-duty soldier was involved in the incident.”

The victim is a young man in his 20s named Sharif Hadid, according to Arabic outlets. Though police indicated the lethal shooting is linked to gangland violence, residents have disputed this, insisting that the victim had no criminal background.