Police Deploy Snipers in Bedouin City to Combat Gun Violence

The unusual deployment followed weeks of intense shooting, primarily at night, which residents described as creating a war-like atmosphere. Rahat Mayor Talal al-Kernawi had appealed to the police commissioner and district commander for intervention, reporting that a month of clashes involving six families had resulted in two deaths, including the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Moussa Yousef Aljabor about a month prior. While the mayor noted that the increased police presence and technological assets, including a helicopter, had successfully reduced the gunfire, some local security sources viewed the sniper deployment as a temporary fix.

Residents of Rahat expressed mixed reactions, with many voicing outrage and fear over the snipers, stating the measure created a "feeling of war" and frightened families and children. They urged the police to focus on dismantling crime organizations and arresting criminals rather than intimidating the public. According to police sources, authorities have intensified operations in the Bedouin sector, confiscating numerous weapons, including firearms and ammunition stolen from the IDF. Since the beginning of the year, police have seized over 600 firearms and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition in the Southern District.