Israeli Police Charge Three in Double Murder and Attempted Assassination in Northern Israel

Israeli authorities have cracked a case involving a northern crime organization responsible for a double murder in the Golan Heights and an attempted assassination in the Galilee. The indictment against three suspects will be filed on August 20, 2026, following investigations into shootings that occurred in June and July. The suspects, aged 19, 28, and 43, hail from Kiryat Shmona, Kisra-Sumei, and Sajur respectively. The double murder took place in June in Bukata, Golan Heights, where Marwan Abu Shaheen, 52, and Saada Saada, 56, were fatally shot while inside a vehicle. Police investigations revealed the hit squad had premeditated the attacks, renting a cabin and purchasing vehicles in advance to carry out the crimes.

In early July, during a police operation in Yirka, officers apprehended a masked suspect who was caught on video shooting a store employee at point-blank range, seriously injuring the victim. Upon arrest, the suspect was identified as the same individual wanted for the Golan double murder. Several vehicles, including the one used in the murders, were seized in Kiryat Shmona. The primary suspect remains at large as police continue their efforts to capture him.

Northern District Police Commander Meir Eliyahu emphasized that solving murder cases and combating serious crime remain top priorities. He stated that officers are working intensively to bring all involved criminals to justice and ensure they face imprisonment. The indictments will be submitted to the Nazareth District Court, marking a significant step in addressing organized crime violence in northern Israel.