Five people were killed overnight between Wednesday and Thursday in crime-related incidents in the Arab community, police said, as the Arab-Israelis continue to grapple with rising crime.
In Segev Shalom, an individual identified as Farid Abu Mubarak was rushed to the Soroka Medical Center in critical condition after sustaining piercing wounds to his upper body. Later on, according to a police statement, officers were on the scene, collecting forensic evidence and scanning the area for potential suspects.
Earlier Thursday, a 50-year-old man and resident of Lod, later identified as Hussein Abu Rakayek, was shot dead in Lod, according to Magen David Adom.
According to the ongoing investigation, the victim walked from the Old City area of Lod to a Dor Alon gas station at the intersection of Yodfat and Abba Hillel Silver streets. There, he was shot to death by an assailant who fled the scene.
Police said officers have secured the scene, collected forensic evidence, and obtained footage from nearby security cameras. Patrols and special units launched area searches following the early-morning shooting. Police have asked the public to avoid the area.
Earlier Thursday, three other victims from the Arab sector were also shot and killed, one in Yarka, one in Rahat, and another in Furadis.
A 42-year-old resident of Yarka was shot and killed, in what police have determined to be a criminally motivated act.
An hour earlier, a 22-year-old was found dead in his car in the city of Rahat in southern Israel. The victim was later identified as Muktar Ata Abu Madighem, the son of former Rahat mayor Ata Abu Madighem.
Police later said they arrested three Rahat locals they believe were involved in Madighem’s murder. Police intend to bring the suspects before the Beersheba Magistrate’s Court to request an extension of their arrest.
In the Arab town of Furadis near Haifa, a 30-year-old was reported dead in a shooting incident late Wednesday. Upon arrival at the scene, police officers were confronted by local residents. Officers used crowd control measures to disperse the disturbance.
Rahat Mayor Talal Alkrinawi said this was “a black day” for the entire Arab sector.
“This is the time for me to raise a cry to the Israeli government to convene and declare a state of emergency in the Arab sector. I also call on the national security minister to resign immediately, because we have no security,” a statement issued by Alkrinawi read.
“We want security. We are crying out for security,” he continued.
“Another murder and another murder, another protest and another strike, and we see no end to this. It cannot be that our citizens want security, are crying out for security, and there is no security,” he added.
“That comes before everything. If there is no security, there is no life.”
Addressing a situational assessment with senior police command on Thursday morning, Police Commissioner Daniel Levi demanded more support to deal with what he called a state of emergency.
“This is a national state of emergency! The war against crime organizations requires comprehensive, root-level action by all government ministries, from education, welfare, economy and justice, along with the integration of local leadership. Everyone must step up, including the IDF,” Levi stated.
“Immediate legislation is needed to restore the technological tools for police use,” he added.
According to the Abraham Initiatives, which monitors and reports violent crime within the Arab sector in Israel, 45 people were killed in crime-related incidents in 2026. During the same period last year, there were 31 victims.
In recent weeks, tens of thousands have taken to the streets across the country to protest the government’s handling of violent crime in Israel’s Arab society, with Arab and Jewish Israelis marching together and calling for stronger law enforcement and safer streets.
Moshe Cohen contributed to this report.