Jerusalem, 26 February, 2026 (TPS-IL) — A wave of homicides in the Israeli-Arab community continued with the shooting death of a man in the northern town of Reineh, near Nazareth, on Thursday morning.
The victim, identified as 56-year-old Khaled Odeh, was likely killed as part of a blood feud stemming from a previous murder. Odeh’s son is one of three suspects charged in the January murder of Azmi Jrayeb. The 15-year-old Jrayeb was killed in an apparent case of mistaken identity.
Paramedics found Odeh unconscious with severe injuries and rushed him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police have launched an investigation, but no arrests have been made.
The Thursday morning murder comes amid surging violence in the Arab sector, in which 56 people have been murdered since the beginning of 2026. The previous year saw a record 252 Israeli-Arab homicides — more than double the 120 homicides in 2022.
The surge is attributed to organized crime groups fighting turf battles and attempting to eliminate rivals. Arab criminal organizations have been involved in extortion, money laundering, and trafficking in weapons, drugs, and women.
Critics argue the crime wave has worsened since Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right politician, became National Security Minister in 2022.