53 killed since the beginning of the year: Young man shot dead in Umm al-Ghanam

SadaNews - A young man was killed due to gunfire that targeted him in a crime committed in Umm al-Ghanam on Monday evening, bringing the toll of murder victims in the Arab community to 53 since the beginning of the year, including 27 killed since the start of this month.

Local sources reported that the victim of the murder was 21-year-old Wael Youssef Kheili (Tuhmir).

The local council in the town announced a general strike in Shibli and Umm al-Ghanam on Tuesday, affecting the council, official institutions, schools, and commercial shops, excluding private education.

The local sources stated that an unidentified assailant fired shots at one of the buildings while the victim, young Youssef, was present at the scene, purchasing items from a store, leading to a fatal gunshot wound that claimed his life.

A medical team that arrived at the crime scene reported that it "received a call at 18:37 notifying them of a young man being injured, who was transported to a local clinic in Umm al-Ghanam."

They added that paramedics "were providing medical treatment to a 21-year-old man, and he was being transported to the hospital in critical condition due to penetrating injuries, while cardiac and respiratory resuscitation was being performed on him," but his death was confirmed at "Ha'emek" hospital in Afula after attempts to save his life failed.

The police stated that they are "investigating a shooting that occurred shortly ago in the town of Shibli (near Umm al-Ghanam), which resulted in one person being critically injured and later taken to the hospital."

They added that "police forces are present at the crime scene, conducting search operations to look for suspects based on criminal grounds."

The toll of murder victims since the beginning of the year reached 53, including 27 since the start of this month, and 26 during January. Among the victims were 4 individuals shot by police, three women, and two boys under the age of 18.

The Arab community is witnessing daily protests against the escalation of crime and in condemnation of the complicity of the Israeli authorities and police. Protests began in Sakhnin with a strike, followed by other Arab towns, and were followed by two national demonstrations in Sakhnin and Tel Aviv, in addition to a convoy of cars that started from Arab towns heading to Jerusalem.

The year 2025 recorded an unprecedented toll in murders, amounting to 252 Arab victims, amid accusations of the Israeli police's negligence and its collusion with organized crime, and its failure to provide security and safety for Arab citizens.