Man arrested on suspicion of murdering his sister in Ness Ziona

Police on Monday arrested a man in the central city of Ness Ziona on suspicion of murdering his sister.

The woman in her 20s was found in the suspect’s apartment with traumatic injuries to her body. Medics declared her death at the scene.

Police arrested her brother, a resident of Ness Ziona in his 30s, and opened an investigation into the woman’s death.

Police said in a statement that they will request that a court extend his detention during the investigation.

Medics who arrived at the scene said, “We arrived at the apartment and saw the woman lying on the floor, unresponsive. We carried out a medical check, but she had no vital signs and we were forced to declare her death at the scene.”

The incident follows two suspected murders of women in the central city of Lod.

Last week, a 53-year-old woman was found dead in her apartment in Lod with signs of violent injury on her body. Her husband was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Days earlier, 33-year-old Lidar Swisa Yaffe was found dead in her apartment, also in Lod. Police arrested Yaffe’s neighbor, who relatives said had a history of harassing her, on suspicion of murder.

Domestic violence in Israel is on the rise, according to figures released in November by the Welfare and Social Affairs Ministry.

Numerous protests have been held in recent years over the authorities’ handling of domestic violence, particularly in cases where the victims were already known to be in abusive relationships.