Woman Murdered in Beer Sheva Home with Young Son Present

Nania Melda was murdered in her home in Beer Sheva overnight between Saturday and Sunday, with her five-year-old son present in the apartment. Her husband, in his 40s, is suspected of stabbing her multiple times before calling the police to their home on Ben Orr Street and subsequently being arrested. A neighbor recounted that the child had tried to call her during the night, and she had a missed call from him at 6:00 AM, expressing a grim premonition. The same neighbor stated that Melda had recently taken her husband back after a separation, at the child's request, and that while there were no prior reported incidents of violence, they were not getting along. She described Melda as a good woman with a zest for life.

Another neighbor, Rina, called Melda an amazing woman and a wonderful mother to her five-year-old son, noting she had lived below her for three years and never heard any disturbances. She mentioned they had recently visited Ethiopia and described the husband as quiet and Melda as smiling. A third neighbor, Esther, called the husband "always strange" and praised Melda as a good woman, mother, and neighbor who was active in the building's committee.

Magen David Adom paramedics who arrived at the scene found Melda unconscious with numerous penetrating wounds. They provided medical treatment, including stopping bleeding and administering medication, before evacuating her to Soroka Hospital in critical condition, where she was pronounced dead. The couple had three children; the five-year-old was home during the murder, while the other two are 16 and 20 years old. Approximately two hours after the murder, the young child remained outside the building, accompanied by municipal and police officials who provided him with toys.

Initial investigation revealed no prior police reports of domestic violence. The report of the stabbing was received at 1:42 AM. According to the Michal Sela Forum, which tracks such incidents, 11 women have been murdered by their partners since the beginning of 2026, with three additional women killed by other family members. The forum also reported the murders of four men by relatives or ex-partners, including Binyahu Razi, and three children. Approximately 40% of women murdered by partners are from the Jewish community, with the remainder from the Arab community.