Two killed, including 10-year-old girl, in criminal shooting in Kafr Qasim
Police investigating the possibility that the incident, which left victim’s 17-year-old brother in critical condition, is retribution for deadly car explosion in Ramle last month
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Two family members, including a child, were shot dead in the Arab Israeli city of Kafr Qasim on Monday night, in an apparent criminal incident that left another member of the family in critical condition.
The shooters disguised themselves as police officers and entered the house, where the shooting took place, Hebrew media reported.
First, they shot Udai Musrati, 17, and left him in critical condition. Then, they proceeded to the bedrooms of Seham Musrati, 10, and Mai Issa, 29, both of whom they killed.
Video from the crime scene the following morning showed blood inside the residence, including on the mattress of 10-year-old Seham, who was reportedly killed in her bed.
In a statement, the Israel Police said that an investigation has been opened into the shooting, which it is treating as related to “clan conflict,” amid the ongoing surge in organized crime gripping Israel’s Arab community.
“What’s even more painful is that we know — we know, we know, we know who did it, we know. My brother received warnings two months ago,” Safaa Issa, Mai Issa’s sister, told the Ynet news site.
סיהאם מוסראתי, ילדה בת 10, וקרובת משפחה נוספת שלה, נרצחו אתמול בכפר קאסם בגלל סכסוכי משפחות.
עד מתי מוסדות השלטון יתעלמו ממה שקורה כאן וחפים מפשע, כולל ילדים, ישלמו את המחיר? pic.twitter.com/g1RgXJ8PW3— מחזקים (@mehazkim) October 22, 2024
According to Hebrew media reports, police suspect the incident may be a revenge attack for a deadly car explosion in the central Israeli city of Ramle last month where four people were killed. Udai Musrati was questioned by police over the bombing, then later released after he was cleared of suspicions, according to the Ynet news site.
There was no suspicion of a terror motive, the police said.
The Magen David Adom ambulance service said that it was called to the scene of the attack shortly after midnight.
The medical team provided medical treatment to the boy and attempted to resuscitate the woman and girl before pronouncing them dead.
According to the Abraham Initiatives nonprofit, 191 Arab Israelis — 185 citizens and 6 permanent residents — have been killed in criminal incidents since the start of 2024. The same period last year saw 208 killed in the community, an all-time high.
The Times of Israel Community.