Man shot dead in northern Druze town of Isfiya

A 45-year-old man was shot dead Tuesday in the northern Druze town of Isfiya, police said.

The man, a resident of the town, was brought to the Carmel Medical Center in Haifa where he was pronounced dead. Police said they had opened an investigation into the incident.

A resident of Isfiya told Haaretz the victim was a father of two children and had no criminal record.

According to the Abraham Initiatives, a non-government group campaigning against violence in the Arab community, since the beginning of 2022, 62 Arab Israelis and Palestinians have been killed in violence or crime-related circumstances in Israel, mostly in shooting incidents.

Arab communities have seen a surge in violence in recent years. Many blame the police, who they say have failed to crack down on powerful criminal organizations and largely ignore the violence, which includes family feuds, mafia turf wars, and violence against women.