Police Raid Nazareth, Arresting Dozens and Seizing Weapons Amid Gang Violence

Dozens of police officers and Border Police forces conducted operations in multiple locations across Nazareth on Friday night, responding to escalating shooting and violence incidents linked to ongoing disputes between criminal gangs in the city. During the nighttime operation, ten suspects were arrested, and a handgun, a fragmentation grenade, and additional weaponry were confiscated. The police have intensified their efforts against individuals involved in these conflicts over the past two days, deploying significant forces for targeted actions.

In several areas, suspects attempted to flee from the arriving forces, leading to foot pursuits by officers who eventually apprehended them. Searches of the targeted compounds yielded the aforementioned grenade, handgun, and other weapons. Authorities believe the seizure of this arsenal prevented its use in the ongoing gang warfare. This latest operation follows a similar large-scale action the previous night, which resulted in the arrest of over 20 suspects, whose detention was extended by a court yesterday.

The police stated that their campaign against organized crime in Nazareth has been expanded over the past year, leading to the imprisonment of leaders of the local "Bakri" crime family. "The internal struggle between local criminal gangs will be met with uncompromising force and determination, in order to maintain the safety and security of the citizens," the police said in a statement. They emphasized that operations in the city will continue until all those involved in the violence are brought to justice.