85 Dead Since the Beginning of the Year: Young Woman Killed Near Rahat and Young Man in Kafr Qassem in Two Shooting Crimes

SadaNews - A young woman in her twenties was killed by gunfire in a crime committed near the city of Rahat in the Negev late Monday evening, while a young man was killed in another shooting crime in Kafr Qassem; bringing the number of deaths in the Arab community since the beginning of this year to 85, including 7 women.

Regarding the crime committed in the Negev, the young woman Sabreen Al-Atayqa (27 years old), a mother of a two-year-old child from Rahat, was shot and critically wounded late Monday, and was later pronounced dead at the "Sourasky" Hospital in Be'er Sheva.

The police stated that an investigation was opened following the shooting in the city, where the injured woman was transferred in critical condition for treatment, but her death was declared there.

They added that police officers from the Rahat station arrived at the crime scene, began collecting evidence, and conducted searches to locate suspects.

The police mentioned that they arrested a young man in his twenties, who is the victim's brother, on suspicion of involvement in the crime, while it was decided, after an assessment by the commander of the southern district, Chaim Bobli, to transfer the investigation to the central unit in the Negev area.

The police confirmed that they will continue to investigate to uncover the circumstances of the crime and bring all involved to justice, emphasizing their ongoing "fight against crime and violence in the Arab community."

Head Injury

Before the young woman's death was confirmed, the police stated in a report that they "opened an investigation into a (crime) of gunfire in the city of Rahat, which resulted in the injury of a woman (24 years old) from Rahat, with critical injuries."

They added that the deceased "was transferred to 'Sourasky' Hospital (in Be'er Sheva) for treatment."

They stated they "started an investigation into the circumstances of the (crime), conducting searches and collecting evidence at the scene, in addition to searching for suspects."

They also pointed out that "it is suspected that the background of the crime is criminal in nature."

A medical team that arrived at the crime scene reported that "first aid crews provided first aid to a 27-year-old woman who was critically injured in a violent incident committed near Rahat."

The paramedics said: "We were informed at the scene that she was injured as a result of violence, and that she suffered from bruises and head injuries."

They continued: "We provided her with first aid on site, then she was transferred to 'Sourasky' Hospital, where she underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and her condition was described as critical"; however, her death was later confirmed after attempts to save her life failed.

As for the crime committed in Kafr Qassem, local sources reported that its victim was the young man Ahmad Issa.

The police stated in a report concerning the Kafr Qassem crime that they "received a report shortly ago indicating gunfire directed at a person in Kafr Qassem, and the injured person was transported to the hospital in critical condition, where doctors pronounced him dead."

They added that they "launched an investigation into the circumstances of the incident, conducted intensive searches, in addition to pursuing the suspects."

The police emphasized in their statement that "according to preliminary estimates, the background of the event is criminal, linked to ongoing blood feuds."

85 Dead Since the Beginning of the Year

With the two crimes committed on Monday, the toll of murder victims in the Arab community since the beginning of this year reaches 85, while the police have only solved 8 cases of crimes, amid ongoing criticisms of their failure to provide security for Arab citizens and alleged collusion with criminal organizations.

Since the beginning of April, 11 people have been killed, with the total toll including 7 women. Three young men were killed by police gunfire, along with three minors under the age of 18, without these statistics including the occupied city of Jerusalem.

This comes against the backdrop of unprecedented increases in crime rates, with repeated calls for Israeli authorities to take serious steps to combat organized crime and curb arms proliferation, noting that the year 2025 recorded a record toll of 252 Arab deaths.

Source: Arabs 48