Israeli Police Solve December Murder of Nazareth Car Wash Worker in Gang Mistaken Identity Shooting

The Northern District Police announced on Thursday that they have solved the murder of Basel Fraoni, a 21-year-old resident of Nazareth, who was fatally shot in December last year. According to the indictment to be filed, Fraoni was mistakenly identified and killed by members of the Hariri crime organization amid a violent conflict with the Bakri organization.

The investigation revealed that masked assailants arrived in a vehicle with a cloned license plate at a car wash business in the Bilal neighborhood of Nazareth, intending to kill the business owner who was not present. Upon entering, they mistook Fraoni, who was holding a washing hose, for their target and opened fire, killing him instantly and moderately injuring another person.

Police from the Emekim unit found the weapon used by the hit squad, along with a ski mask and other items, in an open area. Forensic evidence and vehicle movement reconstruction from the Umm al-Fahm area led to the arrest of three suspects. Two of them, a 21-year-old from Jisr az-Zarqa and a 33-year-old from Reineh, had previously served prison sentences for the murder of 15-year-old Azmi Graib, a case investigated by the YAHBAL unit. The third suspect, aged 18, was arrested in May.

Emekim District Commander Deputy Commissioner Ran Ofir stated that this murder, carried out by a ruthless Hariri crime organization hit squad, is part of ongoing aggressive measures led by Northern District Commander Commissioner Meir Eliyahu against criminal organizations. He emphasized that the police are determined to confront anyone involved in serious crime threatening public security.

The Northern District Prosecutor's Office, represented by Attorney Binyamin Moshe, will submit the indictment and request remand until the end of proceedings to the Nazareth District Court in Nof HaGalil.