Israel Sees Record Spike in Killings Amid Ben Gvir’s Security Promises

During Itamar Ben Gvir's tenure, Israel is experiencing an unprecedented surge in violent killings. Within a span of five hours, four people were murdered in separate criminal incidents across the country. The violence began in Tayibe with the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Bakr Nasirat, reportedly due to a family dispute. Shortly after, a car bomb exploded in Jaffa’s Saharon Street, killing a man in his 40s and severely burning his young son, marking the sixth or seventh car bomb assassination in recent months, mostly linked to criminal rivalries. Another hour later, a double murder occurred in Kalansawa, where two men were shot dead amid a family feud.

Since the start of the year, 165 people have been killed in Israel, with 141 victims from the Arab sector. These figures surpass last year’s record, which itself had exceeded the previous two years. By comparison, during the same period under former Minister Omer Bar-Lev, about 60 people were killed nationwide, including in the Arab sector. The violence, once largely confined to the Arab community, is increasingly spilling over into Jewish sectors, with the use of explosives and car bombs now appearing in Jewish localities as well.

Despite Ben Gvir’s pledges to strengthen governance and personal security, the country is witnessing a historic peak in violent crime and assassinations, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current security measures and the growing reach of criminal tactics.