Ahmad Said Atamneh, Latifa Naif Naamneh Shahin Death News; Two fatally shot hours apart in Arab cities as homicide wave continues.

Ahmad Said Atamneh, Latifa Naif Naamneh Shahin Death News – Two members of Israel’s Arab community were fatally shot in separate incidents on Thursday, underscoring a troubling rise in violent crime that continues to affect Arab towns and cities. The first shooting took place Thursday night in Kafr Qara, a central Arab city. The victim, identified as 36-year-old Ahmad Said Atamneh, was found lying unconscious with multiple gunshot wounds. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. Police have launched an investigation and established temporary checkpoints in the area to locate the suspects. So far, three individuals have been arrested in connection with the shooting, though authorities have not confirmed their involvement or released further details about a possible motive.

Earlier that same day, another fatal shooting occurred in the northern Arab city of Arraba. This time, the victim was 88-year-old Latifa Naif Naamneh Shahin. According to initial reports from Ynet, Shahin was not the intended target. The shooter is believed to have been aiming at nearby parked vehicles when Shahin was struck outside her home. Medics found her critically wounded in her yard and rushed her to a medical facility, where she later died from her injuries.

Police have opened an investigation into the Arraba shooting as well, but as of now, no arrests have been made. The incident has added to growing concern over accidental deaths resulting from reckless gunfire in residential neighborhoods.

These two killings bring the total number of Arab Israelis killed in violent incidents since the beginning of 2025 to 152, according to the Abraham Initiatives, a group that monitors violence in the Arab community. Of those victims, 130 died from gun-related injuries. The data also shows that 74 of the victims were under 30 years old, 15 were women, three were minors under the age of 18, and nine were killed by police.

This year’s figures represent a concerning rise in violence compared to 2024. At the same point last year, 133 Arab citizens had been killed, indicating a 13% increase in homicides so far in 2025.

The surge in violence has been especially pronounced since the start of 2023, when Itamar Ben Gvir took office as Israel’s national security minister. That year, the number of murder victims in the Arab community doubled. Arab political leaders and activists have frequently criticized the Israeli police for what they describe as a lack of serious action to tackle crime in Arab areas. They argue that the failure to solve murders or bring suspects to justice has emboldened criminals and weakened deterrence.

As investigations into the recent shootings continue, residents and community leaders are once again calling for stronger police efforts and effective government intervention to halt the cycle of violence gripping Arab towns. The ongoing bloodshed has left many feeling unsafe and frustrated by the lack of meaningful progress in combating crime within the Arab sector.