Four Charged in Killing of Bus Driver Amid Deadly Shfaram-Nazareth Clan Feud

Four suspects from Shfaram and Nazareth have been charged with the murder of bus driver Ali Swaed, who was shot dead in front of his father at the Shfaram bus terminal earlier this month. The police announced on Monday that the investigation by Lahav 433’s Yachbal unit led to the arrest of three brothers from the Hujairat family, including a 17-year-old, and another young man. The deadly feud between the Swaed and Khalidi crime families has claimed 36 lives over the past three and a half years.

Ali Swaed was the cousin of Hadi Swaed, a 31-year-old man with special needs who was murdered three months ago after leaving work. Video footage shows a gunman shooting Hadi multiple times at close range, then entering and exiting his vehicle to fire additional shots at Hadi’s lifeless body on the street. In late June, indictments were filed against two suspects for Hadi’s murder. Hadi’s father and brother, Khaled and Raslan, were also killed in this ongoing violent conflict.

Sources involved in the feud told ynet that residents live in constant fear, avoiding leaving their homes or workplaces due to threats to their lives. Innocent family members have been targeted simply for their association with the crime groups. Two months ago, the Khalidi family agreed to a one-year truce, and part of the Swaed family consented to a ceasefire. However, associates of the Swaed leader Abu Shaab stated he would only accept a truce if his brother Jalal, who was killed, was returned, a condition deemed impossible to meet.