An Israeli-Arab man in his 50s was murdered in a shooting incident Saturday night in the Israeli city of Lod that also saw a woman - believed to be his wife - and child lightly injured, Israeli media reported. The man was reportedly a former undercover operative who had survived a previous assassination attempt against him 10 years ago, according to KAN.
The victim was identified as Nahid Musa al-Hanuni. According to KAN, Hanuni had previously incriminated several members of the drug trade in Lod, prompting him to move to Tira, an Israeli-Arab city located within the concentration of Arab localities known as the Triangle.
This also made him a target for assassination by three of his nephews, KAN reported.
הנרצח בלוד: ניהאד מוסא אל חנוני. הוא עזב את לוד לטירה אחרי שהפליל סוכני סמים רבים בעיר והפך יעד לחיסול ע"י שלושה מאחייניו@hadasgrinberg pic.twitter.com/xP5NB0kayU
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) July 9, 2022
This followed a round of violence that occurred in Israel over the weekend that saw several killed, and is reportedly the fourth murder to occur in Israel's Arab sector since Friday.
Hanuni was shot and severely injured when he and his wife and child were taken by Magen David Adom personnel to Shamir Medical Center for treatment. However, Hanuni was declared dead in the hospital.
Police are investigating the shooting, but have said that they currently suspect it to be a family conflict.
A deadly weekend
This shooting followed a series of violent incidents in Israel over the weekend, with several occurring in the North.
On Friday, 30-year-old man, a resident of Arara identified as Rajab Abu Hamad, was shot in Lod.
Later that evening, a 56-year-old man, a resident of Maalot-Tarshiha, was shot dead in the Galilee town of Rama.
Also Friday, Fathi Shahin, a 32-year-old resident of Tamra, in Zarzir, was shot dead. The background to the incident is also most likely a conflict between criminals.
Early on Saturday afternoon, a 50-year-old man was found in Tiberias with stab wounds across multiple parts of his body.
Shortly after, between the villages of Dvoria and Shibli in the Lower Galilee, a 21-year-old man was seriously injured by gunfire, and a 71-year-old suspect has been arrested.
This is a developing story
Roman Meitav contributed to this report