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At least five people were killed within hours on Sunday in a string of shootings and car bombings that rocked Israel’s Arab community, with dramatic videos capturing vehicles engulfed in flames following explosions in Jaffa and Holon, near Tel Aviv.

The deadly incidents, which police believe are linked to organized crime and ongoing family feuds, pushed the number of homicide victims in Israel’s Arab community to at least 141 this year, according to the Abraham Initiatives watchdog.

Father Killed, Six-Year-Old Son Injured in Jaffa Car Bomb

One of the most shocking attacks occurred in Jaffa, where a car exploded while carrying a man in his 40s and his six-year-old son.

Emergency responders pronounced the father dead at the scene, while the young boy suffered moderate burn injuries to his face and was rushed to Wolfson Medical Center for treatment. Reports said the child managed to escape the burning vehicle on his own before paramedics arrived.

Police suspect the explosion was a targeted gangland assassination and are investigating whether it was connected to the fatal shooting of a teenager in Jaffa last week.

According to Tel Aviv District Police Chief Haim Sargarof, investigators believe approximately half a kilogram of explosives had been planted underneath the vehicle before the victim entered it. He said the car traveled roughly 100 meters before the bomb detonated.

Second Car Explosion Kills Man in Holon

Just hours later, another vehicle exploded in Holon, immediately south of Tel Aviv, killing a man believed to be around 30 years old.

First responders found the victim unconscious at the scene and later declared him dead. Authorities have not yet released his identity as investigators work to determine whether the bombing is connected to other organized crime incidents.

Double Shooting in Qalansawe

Violence continued later in the morning when two men in their 40s were shot dead inside a vehicle in the central Arab city of Qalansawe.

Surveillance footage circulating on social media appeared to show two gunmen arriving on a motorcycle before opening fire on the victims’ car and fleeing the scene.

Police have not announced any arrests in connection with the attack.

Overnight Killing in Taibe

The bloodshed began overnight in the Arab city of Taibe, where 19-year-old Bakhar Nuseirat was shot dead outside his home. Another person was seriously wounded in the attack.

Police said the shooting appeared to stem from an ongoing family dispute.

Israeli media reported that Nuseirat had previously been arrested in connection with a murder investigation but was later released due to insufficient evidence.

Violence Reaches Record Levels

According to the Abraham Initiatives, at least 141 Arab citizens have been killed in homicides in Israel since the start of 2026, compared with 120 during the same period last year.

The figures suggest 2026 could surpass 2025, which became the deadliest year on record for violent crime in Israel’s Arab community with 252 homicide victims.

Many community leaders have accused authorities of failing to adequately combat organized crime, illegal firearms trafficking and gang violence. Critics have also blamed National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who oversees the police, for not doing enough to curb the surge in killings.

Police continue to investigate all of Sunday’s deadly attacks, with officers searching for suspects and examining whether the incidents are linked as part of broader criminal feuds.

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