Man Shot Dead After Being Asked His Family Name in Kafr Kanna

Majed Sabih, 25, was killed on Monday in Kafr Kanna after attackers allegedly targeted him because his surname matched that of a family linked to an earlier dispute. His father said the gunmen asked Majed what his family name was, and then opened fire five times.

According to the family, Majed had gone to visit a friend who had recently been released from prison after being arrested on suspicion of employing illegal Palestinian workers. While the two were sitting in a car in the hills near the village, two young men arrived on a quad bike. One asked Majed’s friend which family he belonged to, and when he said he was from the Taha family, the gunman turned to Majed, asked his surname, and shot him at close range after he answered, the family said.

Majed’s father, Mahmoud, said, “My son was murdered in cold blood and without justice.” He added, “God sees everything that happened and will take revenge. Whoever committed the murder is known to us. I want to ask one question, what did my son do to you that you killed him?” He said the family believes it knows the identity of the killers with about 90% certainty, and that the bullet struck Majed in the chest and leg. The family also said a reconciliation committee had informed them that the killer’s family admitted responsibility, but that a second suspect still needs to be identified.

Majed’s death was pronounced at the Italian Hospital in Nazareth, hours after another killing on Highway 65 near Musheirfa, where Imad Agbaria, 51, died when his car exploded. His father, Ahmed, said Imad had been disabled and partially paralyzed but always supported him. The family is still reeling from the killing of Imad’s son three months ago. Imad’s stepmother, Wagdan Agbaria, said the father and son were like her own children and that the family was not expecting another murder to shake them.