18 years in prison for Arab man who murdered his cousin over a parking dispute

The Jerusalem District Court sentenced Muhammad Youssef Shahada to 18 years in prison for the murder of his cousin Mustafa Shahada in the Anata neighborhood in August 2023. The background: a dispute over a parking spot. Shahada stabbed his cousin 14 times until his death, and also wounded his brother who tried to intervene. In addition, he will compensate the family with 215,000 shekels.

The Jerusalem District Court sentenced Muhammad Youssef Shahada to 18 years in actual prison for the murder of his cousin Mustafa Shahada and for assaulting the victim's brother. The background to the act is a family dispute over a parking spot in the Anata neighborhood in Jerusalem. According to the indictment, to which Shahada confessed as part of a plea deal, the confrontation occurred in August 2023. During an argument over the use of a parking space, Shahada stabbed his cousin at least 14 times in all parts of his body until he collapsed and died. When the victim's brother tried to intervene and defend him, Shahada also stabbed him, causing a serious injury that required emergency surgery. In addition to the prison sentence, the murderer was given suspended sentences and compensation of 215,000 shekels. The Jerusalem District Attorney's Office emphasized the cruelty of the act and the fact that Shahada had several opportunities to stop the violence, but he chose to continue and escalate. The victim, Mustafa Shahada, was a 22-year-old young man, a volunteer with Magen David Adom who performed national service. The court determined that Shahada initiated the physical violence, and that the multiple stabbings indicated cruelty and bullying.