Five Arab Israelis were killed in separate shooting incidents across Israel within a 24-hour period, police confirmed on Thursday, highlighting the worsening surge of violent crime in Arab communities.
The latest deaths have pushed the number of Arab Israelis killed so far this year to 44, amid growing concerns over unchecked criminal activity and armed gang violence. Criminal groups are known to extort residents and business owners for protection, often targeting and killing those who refuse to comply.
Israeli media reported that 20-year-old Farid Abu Mubarak was shot dead on Thursday morning in the Bedouin town of Shaqib al-Salam in the Negev. Earlier, 22-year-old Mukhtar Abu Madigham, the son of a former mayor of Rahat, was killed in a separate shooting in the southern city.
In northern Israel, Najib Abu Rish was gunned down in the Druze village of Yarka. Meanwhile, in the central city of Lod, emergency responders from Magen David Adom said a man in his fifties succumbed to critical gunshot wounds. He was later identified as 60-year-old Hussein Abu Rqeiq.
Authorities also confirmed the killing of 47-year-old Muhammad Qassem late Wednesday in Al-Fureidis village near Haifa.
Police said investigations had been launched into all the incidents and that “extensive searches” were ongoing to apprehend those responsible.
Israel Police Commissioner Dani Levy described the escalating violence as a “national emergency,” calling for a decisive crackdown on criminal networks. He urged community leaders to openly denounce the violence and appealed to the judiciary to impose tougher sentences on offenders.
However, many Arab citizens accuse law enforcement agencies of failing to effectively prosecute criminals, a frustration that has fueled widespread protests in recent months. The demonstrations have included large rallies in Sakhnin, nationwide marches and a car convoy from northern Israel to government offices in Jerusalem.
Israel recorded a record 252 killings among Arab citizens in 2025, according to official data. Arab Israelis, who are descendants of Palestinians who remained after Israel’s establishment in 1948, make up about 21 percent of the country’s 10.15 million population.
