Two people were shot dead overnight in separate incidents in northern Israel, bringing the country's homicide toll since the beginning of the year to 174, according to figures compiled by Haaretz. Police said both killings are believed to be criminally motivated.
In Haifa, Jonathan Khoury, 18, was fatally shot during the night. Paramedics from Magen David Adom pronounced him dead at the scene after finding him without signs of life.
Two other 18-year-old men sustained critical gunshot wounds and were evacuated to Rambam Health Care Campus for emergency treatment.
Police have launched an investigation into the shooting and said the circumstances point to a criminal motive.
Second Fatal Shooting Reported in Reina
Later in the night, Mohammad Zidan, 30, was shot dead in the Arab town of Reina.
Magen David Adom said paramedics found him without a pulse or breathing, suffering from multiple penetrating gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police also believe the killing was linked to criminal activity.
Violence Continues to Escalate
According to Haaretz's homicide tracker, 174 people have been murdered in Israel since the start of 2026, including 145 members of the Arab community. Thirteen people have been killed since the beginning of the week alone.
For comparison, 149 people were murdered during all of 2022, before the current government took office.
Three More Murders Reported the Previous Day
The latest killings followed three separate murders reported on Wednesday within less than an hour.
In Netanya, Rabbi Amos Guetta, 75, was stabbed to death in his home. Police arrested a local man in his 30s, who is known to law enforcement, and a court later extended his detention by one week.
In Shefa-'Amr, Ali Suwaed, 24, a bus driver, was shot dead while driving to work in what police believe was connected to a family feud.
In Yagur, Kamel Abu Khalib, 21, a resident of Basmat Tivon, was fatally shot in a shopping center parking lot near his workplace.
The number of homicide victims during the first half of the year has increased significantly in recent years.
Between January and early July 2022, when Omer Bar-Lev served as Minister of Public Security, 66 people were murdered.
During the same period:
- 2023: 140 homicide victims.
- 2024: 139 homicide victims.
- 2025: 161 homicide victims.
- 2026: 174 homicide victims recorded so far.
Growing Criticism of Law Enforcement Leadership
The latest wave of killings has intensified criticism of Israel's law enforcement leadership.
According to Haaretz, senior officials within the law enforcement system have criticized National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Police Commissioner Danny Levy, and the police command over what they describe as a failure to curb violent crime.
One senior police official described the situation as "a total collapse of the system," saying that the most alarming aspect is what he characterized as growing institutional indifference.
The official alleged that police leadership has failed to demonstrate urgency despite the continuing rise in homicides, while calling attention to what he described as a lack of accountability at the highest levels of Israel's law enforcement system.
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