Pharmacist Shot in Sakhnin Pharmacy After Refusing Protection Payments

A pharmacist in Sakhnin, Awad Zbeidat, was shot and moderately wounded on Saturday evening when two masked assailants entered his "Alfarmashani" pharmacy and opened fire. Zbeidat was evacuated to Ha'emek Medical Center in Nahariya for treatment. The shooting occurred in front of his wife and two customers, who narrowly avoided injury. According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen fired several shots at Zbeidat, who despite being hit, attempted to pursue them and threw objects. The suspects fled the scene.

Police arrived and launched an investigation, searching for the suspects, but no arrests have been reported. This incident follows a series of threats and attacks against Zbeidat and his pharmacy, stemming from his refusal to pay protection money. In the previous month, over 50 bullets were fired at the business in two separate incidents after Zbeidat received demands for approximately 250,000 shekels. The fear among customers led him to temporarily close the pharmacy and declare an "open strike."

Zbeidat had previously told Ynet that he initially didn't understand why he was targeted. Weeks after the first shooting, he began receiving calls demanding protection payments, which he refused. "I will not pay protection money, in any way. I do not work, toil, and invest to give my money to people who have no right over me," he stated, emphasizing his refusal to succumb to extortion. He had invested heavily in the pharmacy over the two years prior, working "day and night" with his wife to build a future.

He urged other business owners not to give in to extortion, advocating for a determined fight against such demands. He also expressed concern for his safety and the fear of his customers. The police stated at the time that the investigation was ongoing and that they were acting against crime organizations involved in collecting protection money.

Following Saturday's shooting, dozens of Sakhnin residents gathered at the pharmacy, expressing anger and protesting the violence, shootings, threats, and the ongoing issue of protection money in the city. This anger is not new; in January, Sakhnin businesses went on strike due to similar incidents, leading to broader protests across the Arab community demanding increased action against crime organizations and protection rackets.