Airplane mode, gloves and a timer: The deadly 5 a.m. ambush that silenced the eyewitness

An indictment was filed against Hussein Hujirat, a 24-year-old resident of Bir al-Maksur, for the murder of an eyewitness to another homicide. According to the indictment, Hujirat and an unidentified accomplice ambushed the witness as he left his home in Shefa-Amr, shooting him nine times at close range. The two premeditated the murder, equipped themselves with weapons and gloves, and switched their phones to airplane mode to avoid detection.

The Haifa District Attorney's Office has filed a serious indictment against Hussein Hujirat, a 24-year-old resident of Bir al-Maksur, for the murder of an eyewitness to another homicide. According to the indictment, Hujirat and an unidentified accomplice planned to ambush the witness as he left his home in Shefa-Amr, aiming to prevent his testimony in a criminal proceeding. On the night between August 11 and 12, at 4:21 a.m., the defendant switched his mobile phone to airplane mode to avoid detection. The two drove while wearing orange gloves and carrying weapons. Around 5:24 a.m., the witness left his home, and the two blocked his path and fired at least nine bullets at close range. The witness, Ali Sawaed, was pronounced dead at the scene. After the murder, the two fled to a forest near the village of Dmeide and hid the vehicle. The defendant attempted to set the car on fire to destroy evidence but was arrested by police before he could. The prosecution noted that this is the second time it has filed an indictment for murder under this aggravating circumstance and requested the court order his detention until the end of proceedings.