Israeli police shot and killed a man in his twenties in Lod, southeast of Tel Aviv, on Wednesday after an alleged attempted stabbing. The victim was identified as Sami Ahmed Jasous, marking the sixth Palestinian citizen of Israel to be killed by Israeli police since January, according to the Palestine News Agency.
Details of the Incident
The shooting occurred in Lod, a mixed Jewish-Arab city with a population of about 105,000, of whom nearly 70 percent are Jewish and the rest Arab citizens of Israel. Jasous was fatally shot after police responded to a reported stabbing attempt. No further details on the circumstances were immediately released.
Broader Context of Violence
The Arab community in Israel has long faced challenges including house demolitions for building without permits, and a surge in violence and homicides such as shootings and stabbings. On the same day, a crime figure from the Arab community was killed in a car explosion in Haifa during daytime, becoming the seventh homicide fatality in three days. Two additional incidents in Basma and Shfaram left two more young men dead.
Political Reactions and Criticism
Knesset members representing the Arab community have repeatedly urged the government to address crime and scrutinize police actions. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees the police, has been accused of deliberately failing to disarm gangs. In 2025, a record 252 Arab citizens were killed, accounting for 80 percent of all homicide cases, despite the community comprising only 21 percent of Israel's population.
