Man shot dead in I’billin, in 2nd killing in northern Arab town in less than a day

A 26-year-old man was shot dead early Tuesday morning in I’billin, in the second such incident in the northern town in under a day as the crime wave in Israel’s Arab society continues to surge.

According to emergency services, the man was taken in critical condition to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was not immediately identified.

Police said that an investigation into the shooting has been opened, and that the background is related to a criminal dispute between rival families in the town. According to police, officers arrested 14 members of the two suspected involved families for questioning.

Less than a day earlier, a 50-year-old resident of I’billin named Raouf M’riessat was shot dead in a cowshed in the village. He was pronounced dead at the scene by medics, who were called following reports of a shooting.

A car was set on fire near the scene, and police said they were investigating whether the torched vehicle belongs to the perpetrators.

No arrests were made in connection with the shooting.

#صورة رؤوف مريسات (50 عامًا) ضحية جريمة القتل رميًا بالرصاص في عبلين صباح اليوم. pic.twitter.com/p88uiTYu25

— الجرمق الإخباري (@aljarmaqnet) February 2, 2026

The two killings in I’billin come as violent crime continues to spiral out of control in Arab locales across Israel, with 27 people shot dead in January. The two victims are the 28th and 29th Arab citizens to be killed in violent circumstances this year.

Last year was Arab society’s deadliest year on record, after 252 people were killed in crime-related incidents. Many Arab leaders accuse law enforcement of neglect.

The proliferation of deadly crime has sparked protests in Arab cities and towns over the past two weeks, which reached a high point over the weekend with a mass Arab-Jewish protest in Tel Aviv demanding the government rein in the violence.

Critics have blamed National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who oversees police, for the worsening situation. Since he took office in 2023, the homicide rate in Arab society doubled and has continued to rise since.

According to data from the Abraham Initiatives, which tracks Arab homicide victims, only 32 indictments were filed last year against suspects in Arab society killings. The group said the data is evidence of chronic under-policing when it comes to the community and “points to fundamental discrimination in enforcement.”