Clan war in the Negev: gunfire, stones, and Molotov cocktails | First publication

Five suspects were arrested in Ar'ara in the Negev over the weekend following a conflict between families that included gunfire, stone-throwing, and the discovery of materials for making Molotov cocktails. The police seized a Carlo rifle, a Glock 17 pistol, and ammunition. The police operation was carried out at several locations in the town by officers from the Ar'ara station, fighters from the Yoav unit, and the Southern Border Police. The suspects and evidence were transferred for investigation at the Ar'ara station.

Five suspects were arrested in Ar'ara in the Negev over the past weekend, against the backdrop of a violent conflict between families in the town. As part of the conflict, several incidents of gunfire and stone-throwing occurred. Officers from the Ar'ara station, fighters from the Yoav unit, and the Southern Border Police operated at several locations in the town following the ongoing conflict. During the operation, a Carlo rifle, a Glock 17 pistol, ammunition, and items used to prepare Molotov cocktails were seized. Some of the suspects were arrested on suspicion of throwing stones at police forces. All suspects and evidence were transferred for further investigation at the Ar'ara station. The incident joins a series of violent events in the context of clan conflicts in Ar'ara and the Negev. Last September, 11 suspects were arrested after masked individuals opened fire on homes of a rival clan, and the investigation revealed that stolen IDF weapons were used. Police sources stated that in the Southern District, there was a 20% decrease in shooting incidents, a 10% increase in weapons seizures, a 13% decrease in serious violent crime, and a 20% decrease in murder offenses, due to the police commissioner's directive for proactive operations by the forces.