Israeli Police Arrest Suspect in Fatal Shooting of 19-Year-Old in Tayibe

Five days after the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Bakr Nussirat in Tayibe, Israeli police arrested the suspect on Friday. The suspect, a man in his twenties and a relative by marriage of the victim, was found hiding in a safe house in the city of Tira. During the arrest, officers seized improvised explosive devices from the suspect, and nearby searches uncovered firearms believed to have been used in the murder. These weapons have been sent for forensic analysis.

The murder occurred overnight between Saturday and Sunday, when Nussirat was shot dead at the entrance to his home shortly after returning from a wedding with family members. Another young man was seriously injured and hospitalized. Early investigations suggested the motive was an internal family dispute. Following a situation assessment at the scene by Central District Commander Amir Cohen, the investigation was assigned to the Crime Fighting Unit (YALP) Sharon.

The killing drew significant attention because it took place at the exact location where Nussirat’s cousin, Moatasem Nussirat, was murdered the previous year. After that earlier killing, a reconciliation was reached between the feuding families, including an agreement for Nussirat’s family to leave the house and not return. However, the family recently moved back, and investigators are examining whether this return triggered the renewed conflict.

Prior to the arrest, police released unusual body camera footage showing Nussirat’s relatives washing the crime scene minutes after the shooting, prompting concerns that evidence might have been destroyed. Bakr Nussirat himself had been previously detained in August 2025 on suspicion of ordering a killing related to a land dispute but was released due to lack of evidence.

With the suspect in custody and weapons seized, investigators hope forensic findings and collected evidence will strengthen the case and clarify the events leading to the first murder in Tayibe after eight months of relative calm.