Two Palestinian citizens of Israel killed in separate shootings

Two Palestinian citizens of Israel have been killed in two separate shootings amid a continuing crime wave within Israel's Palestinian community.

Yazen Abu Salah, from the Druze village of Ein al-Asad in northern Israel, died on Saturday after being shot at a bar in Rosh Pina on Friday, according to local media reports.

Three suspects from the Israeli town of Tuba-Zangariyye have since been arrested in connection with the crime, reports said.

The attack is believed to be related to a gang rivalry, as Israeli news channel Channel 12 reported that patrons confirmed that the shooting was criminal in nature, after initially suspecting it as a 'terror' attack.

Separately, Mohammed Sheikh al-Eid, was later fatally shot while driving in the southern Israeli city of Rahat on Sunday.  

After being critically wounded, his vehicle collided with a minibus.

The Times of Israel reported that Israeli police have suspected the shooting of al-Eid is linked to an ongoing feud between the victim’s family and a rival family, the Abu Latifs, which is a conflict that has already claimed eight lives.

Various Palestinian accounts detail that in addition to the widespread discrimination and growing political repression faced by Palestinian citizens at the hands of the Israeli government, there has been a deeply alarming surge in the number of Palestinian victims of organised crime.

Palestinian leaders and rights groups have criticised Israel's police, arguing that they have been ineffective in tackling these criminal organisations and have largely neglected the escalating violence.

Druze communities have faced mounting challenges, including organised crime, house demolitions, and various forms of discrimination.

Recently, the murder rate within Druze communities has seen a sharp increase, with areas such as Yarka, Isfiya, Abu Snan, and others being particularly affected.

According to Israeli magazine +972, the village of Isfiya alone experienced five murders between 12 April and 12 May, with two victims' bodies discovered long after they had been abducted.

In response, local journalists and activists reported that residents protested against both the rising violent crime and the perceived inaction of the police in addressing these issues.

The perceived inaction and lack of a robust response from law enforcement have intensified concerns amongst rights groups about safety and justice.

Palestinian citizens of Israel, who make up more than 20 percent of the population, have repeatedly called for increased resources as murders within their communities reach unprecedented levels.