Northern Negev Residents Report Intense Gunfire, Threaten Independent Patrols

Residents in the northern Negev, near the Bedouin city of Rahat, reported continuous heavy gunfire from the early morning hours of Saturday, September 26th. The shooting, described as involving light arms and machine guns, began around 6:29 AM and lasted for approximately four hours, according to local accounts. Residents of the nearby settlement of Giv'ot Bar stated the experience was reminiscent of the Hamas attack on October 7th.

Multiple calls were made to the police, who confirmed that patrols were dispatched but could not locate the source of the gunfire. This lack of response has led to significant frustration and fear among the residents. They claim the shooting has been ongoing for a week, with no effective action taken by authorities.

"The reality we are experiencing lately has become impossible," wrote the settlement's manager, Billy, in a community group. "We heard heavy bursts of automatic weapons, like an infiltration into the settlement." She added that the settlement does not have the authority to activate its security team, leaving them feeling exposed and helpless.

In response to the perceived inaction, residents of Giv'ot Bar are threatening to form their own independent force to patrol the area and identify the source of the shooting. "Residents of Giv'ot Bar have finished waiting," Billy stated. "If the existing response does not change, we will establish an independent response force that will go out into the field in real-time to check and locate the source of the gunfire, inside and outside the settlement."

The police issued a brief statement saying, "Rahat police officers are operating in the area."