Chainsaws in the Street: The Massive Clan Brawl That Terrified the City of Ofakim | WATCH
Terrified residents of Ofakim filmed from their balconies on Sunday as rival clans engaged in a violent riot involving high-speed truck chases and a man wielding a running chainsaw.
The quiet city of Ofakim was transformed into a scene of lawless chaos on Sunday as a massive brawl between rival clans erupted in broad daylight. Residents, trapped in their homes, filmed the unfolding violence as men in pickup trucks sped through residential streets, hurling large stones and brandishing dangerous industrial tools. The most chilling footage captured an individual wielding a running chainsaw while chasing opponents, a sight that led local witnesses to scream that a new uprising had begun in their own backyard. This explosion of violence, which police have linked to a long-standing feud between families from the nearby town of Ar'ara, has ignited a fierce political debate over the total loss of governance and security in the Negev region.
The Ofakim Chainsaw Incident
The riot broke out in the afternoon hours near a local construction site, quickly spilling over into the surrounding roads. Footage recorded by a local woman from her balcony captures the raw panic of the city’s residents. "They started an intifada here, pickup trucks are coming from a distance," she is heard shouting in the recording, "Mommy, they came with a chainsaw!" The video shows several white trucks maneuvering wildly on the asphalt as men jump in and out of the vehicles to throw rocks and engage in hand to hand combat.
Police from the Ofakim station were scrambled to the scene as dozens of emergency calls flooded the dispatch center. Upon their arrival, officers managed to detain six suspects for questioning. Following an initial investigation, two of the men were officially arrested. Authorities intend to bring them before the Beersheba Magistrate's Court on Monday to request an extension of their detention. A police spokesperson confirmed that the incident is being treated as a criminal matter rooted in a bitter conflict between families from Ar'ara.
Political Fallout and the Security Vacuum
The severity of the brawl has drawn sharp condemnation from across the political spectrum, with many leaders warning that the Negev is slipping into total anarchy. Hagai Reznik, head of the Rifman Institute for the Development of the Negev, warned that this is a "real siren" for the country. "This isn't a remote desert area, this is Ofakim in the Western Negev. As we warned, the Negev is losing control. Without a multi dimensional plan, sixty percent of the territory of the State of Israel will be lost, and this will quickly reach Tel Aviv and the center of the country," Reznik stated.
Avigdor Liberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, echoed these sentiments, mocking the government's inability to protect its citizens. "'The Saw' is no longer just a horror movie, it is the reality for the residents of Ofakim, who are surrounded by clans that endanger their lives," Liberman tweeted. He added that the public has been abandoned and promised "zero tolerance" for crime organizations in any future government. Former minister Yoaz Hendel also weighed in, sarcastically asking about the whereabouts of the National Security Minister's promised reinforcements during what he described as a "no man's land" event.
