Crime spirals in Israel as five 1948 Palestinians killed in shooting on Thursday

Five Palestinians within the 1948 borders were killed in a shooting on Thursday near Nazareth, and two were injured in Kufor Kana, making Thursday's homicides possibly the highest in a single day ever.  

Earlier, the police deputy commissioner tasked with tackling spiralling violence in the 'Arab sector' - meaning the 1948 Palestinian community - in Israel has resigned amid an unprecedented rise in homicides and violent crime. 

Hebrew media reports offered multiple reasons for the resignation, with some claiming that Natan Bozna was quitting due to frustration with a lack of funding for the unit. 

Bozna's resignation came a day after a decision by the police to shut down the unit tasked with fighting crime in 1948 Palestinian towns, despite a peak in violence. 

Ninety-six Palestinian citizens of Israel, including six women, have been murdered so far this year, according to activists 

The violence has been blamed on an insufficient police presence in Palestinian towns, poverty, unemployment and poor provision of essential services.

Last month, former Knesset member Usama Saadi accused "all the Israeli government and the security branches" of not doing their duty.

Saadi added that "many criminals have immunity because they also work with the police."

Israel's national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has reportedly decided to make a new appointment to address the matter.