Family Protests Fatal Police Shooting of Arab Man in Umm al-Fahm

Approximately 200 family members, residents, activists, and Knesset members gathered in Umm al-Fahm on Saturday evening to protest the recent fatal police shooting of Ala'a Hamed. Hamed was killed by police fire two days prior, on September 17, 2026. The protest, described as relatively large for the period since October 7, 2023, saw a significant police presence, including mounted officers.

During the demonstration, protesters chanted "Israel is a terror state," prompting a commander to warn that he would disperse the crowd if such slogans continued, stating that while protest is allowed, incitement is not. Hamed's mother and brother were present, holding his photograph.

His older brother, Khaled, told local media that Hamed was "executed for nothing," claiming the incident began as a traffic violation. He alleged that four officers, despite Hamed's lack of resistance, "pounced on him" and shot him at close range, with one officer firing a second shot after he fell. Khaled expressed disbelief that the officers would be held accountable, stating, "There is no justice."

Another brother, Omar, attributed the shooting to the rhetoric of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, suggesting a policy of "kill every Arab citizen." He noted that the video footage of the incident was "horrifying" to both Arabs and Jews.

The police maintain that the shooting occurred after a pursuit on Highway 65 and that Hamed attacked an officer during an attempted arrest. However, the family and eyewitnesses dispute this, asserting that he was shot without justification, possibly while handcuffed and not posing a threat. The officer involved has been questioned under caution, released to house arrest, and restricted from police stations and Umm al-Fahm.

Hamed's death marks the ninth Arab citizen killed by police gunfire in 2026. The organization Abraham Initiatives reported that police killed 12 Arab citizens in 2025 and 133 since 2000. The group highlighted a lack of public information regarding the outcomes of investigations by the Police Internal Investigations Department (Mahash) and called for transparency.

The article also references other cases, including the 2021 death of 17-year-old Mohammed Mahmoud Kiwan during city protests and the 2024 death of Murshad Abd al-Hai, whose family is appealing Mahash's decision to close his case. The article suggests a pattern of excessive force and a lack of accountability, drawing parallels to the West Bank and the controversial case of Elor Azaria.