Ahmad Said Atamneh and Latifa Naif Naamneh Shahin — two members of Israel’s Arab community — were fatally shot in separate incidents on Thursday, highlighting a troubling rise in violent crime across Arab towns and cities.
The first shooting occurred Thursday night in Kafr Qara, a city in central Israel. Ahmad Said Atamneh, 36, was found unconscious with multiple gunshot wounds. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. Police have launched an investigation, set up temporary checkpoints, and arrested three individuals in connection with the shooting. However, their involvement remains unconfirmed, and authorities have not disclosed a possible motive.
Earlier that day, another fatal shooting took place in Arraba, a northern Arab city. The victim, 88-year-old Latifa Naif Naamneh Shahin, was reportedly not the intended target. According to early reports from Ynet, the shooter may have been firing at nearby parked vehicles when Shahin was struck outside her home. Medics found her critically wounded in her yard and transported her to a hospital, where she later died from her injuries. No arrests have been made in connection with the Arraba shooting, and police are continuing their investigation.
These two tragic deaths bring the number of Arab Israelis killed in violent incidents in 2025 to 152, according to the Abraham Initiatives, which tracks violence in Arab communities. Of those, 130 victims died from gun-related injuries. The data also reveals that 74 of the victims were under 30, 15 were women, three were minors under 18, and nine were killed by police.
This year’s figures mark a 13% increase compared to the same time in 2024, when 133 Arab citizens had been killed. The rise in violence has become more pronounced since early 2023, coinciding with Itamar Ben Gvir’s appointment as Israel’s national security minister. That year saw the number of murder victims in the Arab sector double, prompting fierce criticism from Arab leaders and activists.
Many community members accuse Israeli police of neglecting Arab areas, citing low clearance rates for murders and a lack of serious enforcement efforts. Critics argue this has emboldened criminals and severely undermined public safety.
As investigations into both shootings continue, community leaders and residents are once again urging stronger law enforcement efforts and meaningful government intervention. The escalating violence has left many Arab citizens feeling unsafe and disillusioned by the ongoing failure to curb crime in their neighborhoods.
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