Man shot to death in northern town amid unrelenting deadly crime wave

A 33-year-old man was shot dead on Thursday night in northern Israel, the latest fatality in an unrelenting violent crime wave in Israel’s Arab community.

The man killed in the northern town of Zarzir was identified in Hebrew media reports as Fathi Shahin, from Tamra.

He was declared dead at the scene of the shooting and police opened an investigation.

Shahin had been sitting indoors with some friends, when unknown assailants came into the room, shot him and fled, Ynet reported.

Police believe the killing was part of a criminal dispute. Officers set up checkpoints in the area to search for suspects.

A medic who arrived at the scene said, “When we went into the apartment we saw a wounded man, unconscious, with penetrating injuries. We carried out medical checks but he had no vital signs, and we had no choice but to declare his death.”

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.

According to the Abraham Initiatives, a non-government group campaigning against violence in the Arab community, since the beginning of the year, at least 51 Arabs and Palestinians have been killed in violence or crime-related circumstances in Israel, mostly in shooting incidents.