Israeli Police Charge Three in Northern Double Murder and Attempted Assassination

Israeli police have solved a double murder case in the Golan Heights and an attempted assassination in the Galilee, filing indictments against three suspects on August 20, 2026. The suspects, members of a northern crime organization, are accused of carrying out a premeditated double murder in June and an attempted killing in July. The suspects rented a cabin and purchased vehicles in advance to facilitate the crimes.

The double murder occurred in June in the Golan settlement of Bukata, where two men, Marwan Abu Shaheen, 52, and Saada Saada, 56, were shot dead inside a vehicle. Police investigations revealed the suspects rented a cabin in Bukata the day before the murders and acquired two cars from a dealership in Usfiya. Several suspects were arrested, and vehicles used in the crimes were seized, including the murder vehicle found in Kiryat Shmona. The main suspect remains at large.

In early July, police in the village of Yirka identified and arrested a masked suspect who shot a store employee at close range, seriously wounding him. Upon removing the mask, police confirmed this suspect was also involved in the Golan double murder. The 19-year-old suspect faces charges for both the double murder and the attempted assassination.

Northern District Police Commander Meir Eliyahu emphasized that solving murder cases and combating serious crime are top priorities. He stated that officers continue working intensively to bring all perpetrators to justice and ensure they are imprisoned.

The indictments will be submitted to the Nazareth District Court, marking a significant breakthrough in tackling organized crime in northern Israel.