Israel's Silent Killer: Father and Son Gunned Down, Three Murders within Hours

The first week of 2026 has become a period of mourning and terror for Arab citizens in Israel as a wave of criminal violence continues to claim lives at an unprecedented rate. On Monday evening, three people were murdered in separate shooting incidents, bringing the total number of victims to seven since the start of the new year. This grim statistic means that, on average, more than one person has been killed every day since January 1. The violence has triggered a wave of political condemnation and public outcry, with President Isaac Herzog describing the situation as a national plague that requires an immediate and massive security response.

The most heart wrenching incident occurred in Nazareth, near the District Court and the government complex. Adham Nassar, 34, and his 15 year old son, Nadim, were carrying out electrical work and installing security cameras at a private residence. As they stepped outside to work, unidentified gunmen opened fire with automatic weapons at close range. Nadim was pronounced dead at the scene by Magen David Adom paramedics, while his father died shortly after being rushed to the Italian Hospital. Preliminary police investigations suggest that the two were victims of a tragic case of mistaken identity, as the intended target was likely the resident of the home where they were working. This follows a similar double murder of a father and son in nearby Yafa an-Naseriyye just two weeks ago.

Hours later, the violence spread to Kafr Qara, where 30 year old Mahmoud Gawi was shot dead inside his own barbershop. Gawi was well known in his community for his generosity, frequently providing free haircuts to those in need. Despite previous shooting incidents targeting his business, he continued to serve his neighbors until gunmen executed him on Monday night. First responders found him without a pulse and were forced to declare him dead on the spot. The investigation into Gawi's death has been handed over to the Coastal District's central unit, but no suspects have been apprehended in either of the night's attacks.

The political fallout from this "bloody Monday" has been swift. President Herzog issued a stern warning, stating that this reality is not a matter of fate but a critical national mission to restore security to all citizens. Meanwhile, social organizations have criticized the government for focusing on rhetoric rather than action, arguing that while officials talk about governance, citizens are being murdered in the streets. With six of the seven victims this year killed by gunfire, and many of them under the age of 30, the Arab community is demanding a total overhaul of the state's approach to organized crime and the illegal weapons trade that continues to fuel this internal war.