Israeli Police Capture Main Suspect in Golan Double Murder After Intense Manhunt

The Northern District Prosecutor's Office filed serious indictments on Thursday against three northern Israeli residents aged 43, 28, and 19 for their involvement in the double murder of Marwan Abu Shaheen, 52, and Saada Saada, 56, in the Golan Heights in June 2026. The youngest suspect, a 19-year-old from Kiryat Shmona, also faces charges of attempted murder in a separate incident in Yarka.

The killings occurred on June 19, 2026, around noon, when shots were fired at a vehicle in Bukata, Golan Heights, killing both victims. The Northern District Police Commander, Meir Eliyahu, assigned the investigation to the Northern Unit (YAMAR). The investigation revealed the murder was meticulously planned: the suspects rented a cabin in Bukata the day before and used two vehicles purchased in advance from a car lot in Usfiya.

Following an open investigation, some suspects were arrested and vehicles, including the murder car found in Kiryat Shmona, were seized. However, the main suspect evaded capture for weeks. The manhunt culminated on the night of July 5, 2026, in Yarka, when police officers spotted a masked man exiting a business after shooting and seriously wounding an employee. The officers arrested the armed suspect, who was revealed to be the main suspect in the Golan double murder.

This morning, prosecutors Yael Katz, Lusana Saig, and Tom Yairi submitted the indictments against the three suspects from Sajur and Kiryat Shmona. Commander Eliyahu emphasized that solving murder cases and combating serious crime remain top priorities for the Northern District Police, which employs advanced technology, intelligence capabilities, and skilled forces to resolve cases and bring suspects to justice.