Woman killed, man seriously injured in suspected murder-suicide attempt

A woman was killed Tuesday in a suspected murder-suicide attempt in the north of the country that left the gunman, who tried to shoot himself, in serious condition.

The homicide happened on Route 4 close to Regba, in the western Galilee region.

The woman was named in Hebrew media as Shani Bachar, of Netiv HaShayara. Her mother told the Ynet outlet that Bachar had for some time tried to end a relationship with the suspect but he refused to leave her alone.

An initial investigation found that Bachar, 31, was driving north along the highway when the man, also in his 30s, blocked her car with his own. He opened fire at her and then turned the gun on himself.

Both were taken to the hospital, where the woman was later declared dead. The man suffered serious injuries.

An unsourced report from the Walla outlet said the man lives in the Arab village of Sulam.

At the beginning of the month, a monitor group said there were 22 incidents of femicide in Israel during 2023.

The Israel Observatory on Femicide said the number of deaths is “underscoring the persistent threat faced by women.”

In 86 percent of cases (19), victims shared a prior relationship with the perpetrators.