Two Palestinians killed in Israel amid ongoing murder wave

Two Palestinian citizens of Israel were killed in separate incidents in the early hours of Monday, as an alarming wave of murders within the community shows no sign of abating.

Ahmed Sharif, 40, was found shot dead in his car in the city of Qalansawe, while 21-year-old Omar Uwadi was shot dead in Ibillin, Israeli daily Haaretz reported.

Israeli police claim the two shootings were linked to organised crime, Haaretz reported. Police said investigations had been launched into both killings, but that no suspects had been arrested for either case.

Monday’s killings bring the total number of Palestinians who live within Israel’s 1948 boundaries murdered this year to 88, according to a Haaretz tally. Citing a count by the non-profit group Abraham Initiatives, The Times of Israel put the number of murders so far this year at 90.

Those numbers put 2023 on track to be one of the worst years for the murders of Palestinian citizens of Israel in recent memory.

The Palestinian community within Israel's 1948 borders is made up of descendants of Palestinians who were able to remain in their villages and towns despite the ethnic cleansing by Zionist forces during the Nakba. 

They make up around 20 percent of Israel's population, and have long been subjected to systematic discrimination as well as police inaction against violence and crime within their communities.

They accuse Israeli authorities of turning a blind eye to the problem of crime.

The violence has been blamed on an inadequate police presence in these communities, poverty, unemployment and poor provision of basic services.

Community leaders for Palestinians in Israel and former Knesset members organised protests last week to call on the Israel authorities to act on the murders.