Nazareth shooting brings this year’s Arab death toll to 116, matching total for 2022
Farouk Khamis, 23, gunned down at bakery in northern city in what police believe was gang dispute, as plague of deadly violence shows no signs of easing
A man was shot to death at a bakery in Nazareth on Saturday, raising the number of Arabs killed in homicides this year to the total figure for all of 2022 amid a persistent violent crime wave plaguing the community.
Paramedics found Farouk Khamis, 23, unconscious and were forced to pronouncde him dead at the scene, according to a Magen David Adom ambulance service statement.
Police said they believe the shooting was related to a gang dispute and are investigating the incident.
It was one of several incidents of deadly gun violence that plagued the Arab community this week. A 55-year-old was shot dead in Qalansawe on Thursday, a 45-year-old man was shot dead in Yarka on Wednesday, a 22-year-old man was shot dead in Ar’aba on Thursday and a 20-year-old was shot dead in Nazareth last Sunday.
Since the beginning of 2023, 116 Arabs have been killed violently in Israel, according to the Abraham Initiatives. Of those, 104 were killed by gunfire. The figure for all of 2022 was 116, with this year’s death toll matching that in just over half the time.
The bloodletting has not been stopped despite the authorities promising more resources, including more police officers and funds to deal with societal issues underpinning the crime wave.
Many community leaders blame the police, who they say have failed to crack down on powerful criminal organizations and largely ignore the violence. They also point to decades of neglect and discrimination by government offices as the primary cause of the problem.
