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A 57-year-old man was shot and killed in the industrial area of Acre on Thursday morning in what police believe may have been a revenge attack linked to a double homicide earlier this month.
The victim, identified by Hebrew media as Jamil Khalila, was rushed to Galilee Medical Center with severe injuries to multiple organs.
Despite efforts to save his life, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival, hospital spokesperson Gal Zeid confirmed to The Times of Israel.
Police have launched an investigation into the killing but have yet to announce any arrests. Law enforcement officials said the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear, though initial reports suggest it may have been connected to ongoing violence between feuding families in the region.
Possible Retaliation for Nahariya Double Murder
According to Hebrew-language news outlets, Khalila’s killing is suspected to be linked to a double homicide in Nahariya earlier this month, in which two young men, Mustafa and Salem Rubai, were gunned down inside an apartment on January 12.
The Rubai brothers, who were from Acre, were part of a family entangled in a violent dispute with another clan.
Police have yet to solve the Rubai brothers’ murder, and investigators are considering whether Khalila was mistakenly targeted in a retaliatory attack. Reports suggest that he may not have been the intended victim, but rather an unintended casualty of the ongoing conflict.
Escalating Violence in Arab Society
Khalila’s killing marks the 10th homicide in Israel’s Arab community since the start of 2025, a worrying statistic that suggests violence is continuing at an alarming rate.
The Abraham Initiatives, a nonprofit that tracks violent crime in Arab communities, reported that 230 Arab citizens were killed in violent incidents throughout 2024, a figure that reflects a troubling rise in crime over the past two years.
In a statement earlier this month, the organization condemned the Israeli government’s failure to address the crisis, stating:
“2025, too, has started with violence. The police’s inability and unwillingness to enforce the law in Arab cities is a continuing failure of the government. This is the third year in a row that this phenomenon has not received a response from the leadership.”
Despite repeated calls for action, law enforcement agencies have struggled to curb violent crime, which is often linked to organized crime groups and long-standing family feuds. Community leaders have urged authorities to allocate more resources toward combating crime and dismantling networks responsible for the bloodshed.
Ongoing Investigation
As of Thursday evening, police had not made any public statements regarding suspects or possible leads in Khalila’s killing. Authorities are continuing their investigation, and additional security measures may be implemented in an attempt to prevent further retaliatory violence.
The latest shooting underscores the deepening security crisis in Arab communities across Israel, where criminal organizations have flourished amid what critics describe as police inaction.
With another killing now added to an already grim tally, residents fear that further bloodshed may be imminent unless decisive action is taken.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
