Violent Clan Feuds Fuel Daily Killings in Arab Communities Across Israel

Since the beginning of 2026, violent clan and gang conflicts in Arab communities throughout Israel have resulted in the deaths of 151 people, with only about 10% of these murders solved. These ongoing disputes, often unknown to the wider public but deeply entrenched within the Arab society, have turned regions like the Galilee, the Triangle, and cities such as Nazareth, Ramla, and Lod into hotspots of relentless violence.

In Shfaram, a feud between the Suad and Khalidi families has claimed 36 lives in under four years, including Ali Suad, a bus driver killed recently in front of his father. In the village of I'billin, conflicts among the Marisat, Qassum, and other families have led to ten deaths, the latest being dentist Yahya Qassum. Ramla and Lod continue to suffer from rivalries between the Abu-Ghanem and Abu-Zaid families, with at least 30 fatalities, and another between the Al-Shamali and Jarushi families, which has caused over 40 deaths and recently reignited after the murder of Ali Al-Shamali.

The Galilee region has also become a "wild west" with violent clashes between crime organizations such as those led by Samir Bakri and Nasser Hariri, resulting in over 55 deaths in less than five years. Additional conflicts involve the Abu-Latif, Na'imi, and Hariri groups, with at least 45 fatalities. The Triangle area, including Kafr Qara and Umm al-Fahm, faces similar deadly disputes, with dozens killed in recent years. Even in Jaffa and Haifa, open conflicts have caused multiple deaths, including three young men killed in the past two weeks in Jaffa.

The police acknowledge the severity of the situation and have declared combating serious crime and violence in Arab society a top national priority. The police commissioner has emphasized this fight as a critical mission, committing all available resources and cooperation with enforcement agencies to curb the violence that primarily harms Arab citizens.

Residents express desperation, calling for an immediate end to the bloodshed that threatens everyone, including innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire. Each murder perpetuates a cycle of revenge, escalating the violence and deepening the tragedy across these communities.