Israeli Businessman Yoav Gelbo'a Murdered in 59 Stab Wounds on Coastal Road

Surveillance footage has revealed the chilling moments leading up to the murder of Israeli businessman Yoav Gelbo'a, who was stabbed 59 times on the Coastal Road near Zichron Yaakov. The footage, recorded in real time, shows Gelbo'a being picked up by Emil Avshaib on May 21 and later trapped in a premeditated attack. After stopping the car, Avshaib exited with a knife and fatally stabbed Gelbo'a.

Following the murder, Avshaib and his accomplices attempted to destroy evidence by washing blood from their vehicles and later burning Gelbo'a's body at the scene using gasoline purchased at a nearby Dor Alon gas station. Avshaib’s son David and his brother-in-law Ruslan Abramov were also involved in the cover-up, with Abramov admitting during interrogation that Gelbo'a "knew too much" and describing the murder as a result of a conflict between Avshaib and Gelbo'a.

Avshaib, a 46-year-old former prisoner from Hadera, was charged with intentional murder under aggravating circumstances. Abramov, 36, faces charges related to arson and obstruction of justice, while David Avshaib, 22, his sister Ela Avshaib, 47, and Abramov’s partner are charged with obstructing justice. The investigation began after a burnt body was found on May 22, initially unidentified but later confirmed as Gelbo'a.

Police credited the surveillance videos with cracking the case within 12 hours, despite the initial lack of a victim’s identity. The footage captured Avshaib’s movements, including bloodstains on his clothing and the methodical attempt to erase traces of the crime. Avshaib was due to be released from prison in late 2025 after serving nearly ten years for a previous incident involving revenge for his brother’s murder.

The Coastal District police commander, Deputy Commissioner Yoni Hajaj, emphasized the importance of the evidence, noting that the suspects’ return to the crime scene to burn the body was a critical mistake that led to their capture.