Soldier Accused of Murdering Man in Nazareth

Israeli police announced on August 12, 2026, that investigators from the Lahav 433 "Yahal" unit have solved the murder of Hisham Hajirat, who was shot and killed in Nazareth on August 12, 2026. A 24-year-old soldier from Bir al-Maksur has been charged.

The police stated that the incident began on July 1, 2026, with a murder at the central bus station. During the suspects' escape, they fired shots, hitting Hajirat. The suspects were apprehended by Yahal investigators. Following an intensive investigation, a statement of intent to indict was filed against the suspects in the murder case on August 10, 2026.

On the morning of August 12, 2026, as Hajirat left his home, suspects in a vehicle intercepted him. One suspect opened fire, striking Hajirat before fleeing the scene. Medical teams pronounced Hajirat dead.

Lahav 433 commander, Major General Meni Ben-Yamin, assigned the Yahal unit to the investigation. Later that day, investigators located the suspect vehicle abandoned in a forest near Bir al-Maksur. They apprehended a suspect who arrived at the scene with a bottle of gasoline, believed to be intended for burning the vehicle.

The suspect, a 24-year-old soldier from Bir al-Maksur, was arrested. After 40 days of detention, investigators built a case against him for his alleged involvement in the murder, leading to the filing of the indictment statement by the Haifa prosecution.