Fourth Murder in Nazareth in 24 Hours; Police Raid Gang Hideouts

A 30-year-old man, Mahmoud Biatra, was shot and killed in Nazareth on Thursday evening, becoming the fourth homicide victim in the city within a 24-hour period. Biatra was shot around 6:45 p.m. and taken to the Italian Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Paramedics described finding him unconscious with no pulse or breathing, initiating resuscitation efforts before transporting him to the hospital.

The previous victims, Nur Alhalu and Nur Nafaa, were killed in a car shooting on Wednesday evening, followed hours later by the murder of Mustafa Badra. Police attribute these shootings to ongoing conflicts between criminal gangs.

In response to the escalating violence, the police deployed dozens of officers and Border Police officers to Nazareth over the past two days for targeted operations against those involved in criminal activity. During the night, officers raided several gang-associated locations, apprehending suspects who attempted to flee on foot. Authorities also seized numerous weapons, including a fragmentation grenade and a handgun.

The previous night, over 20 suspects were arrested, including the brother of one of the murder victims. Their detention was extended until Sunday. The police stated that they have intensified operations in Nazareth over the past year, leading to the imprisonment of leaders of the local 'Bakri' crime organization. They vowed to respond with "uncompromising force and determination" to internal gang conflicts to ensure public safety.