Daijiworld Media Network - Negev
Negev, Jan 5: Israeli police shot dead a 35-year-old Palestinian citizen in the Negev late on Saturday, escalating tensions in the village of Tirabin al-Sana amid a series of violent raids and allegations of incitement by Israel’s national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
The victim, Mohammed Hussein al-Tarabin, a father of seven, was reportedly shot by police during an arrest raid at his home. Family members said Tarabin was killed “in cold blood” after opening the door to officers. His 11-year-old son, who witnessed the killing, recounted: “They knocked on the door. I was awake. My father opened it, and immediately they shot him in the chest. They dragged him to the balcony, removed his trousers, and searched the house while he was lying on the floor. Afterwards, they cleaned the blood from the living room at the entrance.”
Israeli police, in an initial statement, said Tarabin had “endangered officers during the operation” and identified him as a suspect in torching cars in nearby Jewish villages. The family strongly denied these allegations.
Ben Gvir publicly supported the officers, calling the killing “right” and praising the police for their actions. The officer responsible has since been interrogated on suspicion of unlawful shooting and placed under five days of house arrest, while an internal police investigation is underway.
For nearly two weeks, Tirabin al-Sana has faced a crackdown involving raids, arrests, fines, and orders to demolish homes. Palestinian citizens of Israel — descendants of Palestinians who remained after the 1948 Nakba — say they continue to face systemic inequality and repression despite holding citizenship.
The High Follow-Up Committee, representing Palestinian citizens of Israel, condemned the killing and demanded an end to the “raids, siege and collective punishment” in Tirabin al-Sana. Jamal Zahalka, head of the committee, accused Ben Gvir of inciting violence and criticized Israeli authorities for failing to respect the human rights of Arab citizens. He called Tarabin “innocent” and described the police action as a “deliberate killing,” asserting that the campaign in the village is ongoing until more blood is shed.
The killing has drawn widespread condemnation from residents and Palestinian leaders, further highlighting tensions between Israeli authorities and Palestinian citizens within Israel.