Three Young Men Found Dead in Torched Car Near Baqa Al-Gharbiyya

Three young men, identified as brothers Zein Odeh, 16, and Qassem Odeh, 20, and their cousin Yahya Bassimi, 22, were found dead inside a burned car in an open area between the towns of Jatt and Baqa Al-Gharbiyya on Tuesday morning. The discovery has sent shockwaves through the Arab community.

The father of Yahya Bassimi described his son as someone who was trying to stay out of trouble and focus on his future, including thoughts of marriage and building a life. He also noted that the other two victims were orphans who had been raised by their grandmother and were like sons to him. The three young men were reportedly working, with one in electrical work and Yahya pursuing his own future. The father emphasized their love for work and their efforts to build their lives.

He recounted that Yahya usually went out with friends but always returned home, and he initially wasn't concerned when he couldn't reach them. However, after a couple of hours passed and their phones were off, he became worried and eventually reported them missing to the police. The family later received the devastating news of their deaths.

Mohammed Hajli, an activist from Jaljulia, described the atmosphere in the town as deeply saddened, noting that this is not the first time the community has faced such violence, referring to it as a "waterfall of blood." He expressed hope that the police would release details about the incident, stating that the victims were known in the community and did not harm anyone, often volunteering their time.

Hajli criticized the ongoing violence in the Arab community, citing that Jaljulia has lost four people and Nazareth five within the month, in addition to the three victims. He held security forces and the state responsible for the continuation of these crimes, suggesting they are organized and planned attacks targeting the Arab community. He called for serious action to curb the escalating murders.

The deaths bring the total number of murder victims in the Arab community in Israel to 176 since the beginning of 2026, amid rising violence and calls for authorities to take decisive measures.