Palestinian cousins convicted of murder for deadly 2016 Sarona attack
Muhammad and Khalid Muhamra killed four Israelis at upscale Tel Aviv shopping area; Younis Ayash Musa Zayn found guilty of assisting them
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Three Palestinians were convicted on Monday of murder for a deadly terror attack in Tel Aviv’s Sarona Market in June 2016 in which four people were killed.
Cousins Muhammad and Khalid Muhamra, who carried out shooting attack, were found guilty of four counts of murder and 41 counts of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit a crime by the Tel Aviv District Court. Younis Ayash Musa Zayn, who drove them to a storage unit where they prepared the attack, was convicted of conspiracy.
All three are from the southern West Bank city of Yatta.
Dressed in suits, Muhammad and Khalid Muhamra opened fire after ordering dessert at the upscale shopping area’s Max Brenner restaurant, killing four people — Michael Feige, Ilana Naveh, Ido Ben Ari and Mila Mishayev — and wounding dozens more.
The cousins, who fled, were arrested near the scene; and Zayn, also known as Younis Awad, was picked up a short while later for assisting them.
An investigation by security forces later revealed the attackers entered Israel illegally through a hole in the West Bank security fence.
The Shin Bet security agency later said the cousins were “inspired” by the Islamic State terror group.
The attack was carried out with improvised Carl Gustav-style submachine guns, which have been used in a number of terror attacks in the past two years. The Shin Bet said they were purchased from a gun manufacturer in Yatta.
In August 2016, the Israel Defense Forces demolished the homes of Muhammad and Khalid Muhamra. The army also sealed off Zayn’s bedroom last November.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.