Ar'ara: A Palestinian citizen of Israel was on Wednesday killed in a shooting in the Ar'ara town in northern Israel. The fatality was identified as a seven-year-old girl. This incident adds to the growing toll of violence affecting Palestinian citizens of Israel.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency, this recent death brings the total number of Palestinian citizens of Israel killed since the beginning of 2026 to 110. This includes at least three individuals killed by Israeli police fire, five women, and three minors under the age of 18. The surge in fatalities follows a record year in 2025, when 252 people were killed in 218 separate incidents, as reported by the Abraham Initiatives, a non-governmental organization that monitors violence among Palestinian citizens of Israel.
In response to the escalating violence, Palestinian citizens of Israel have organized a series of protests in predominantly Palestinian towns and villages. These protests are directed against the rising violent crimes affecting their communities and accuse Israeli police of complicity and failure to provide adequate protection.
The number of deaths has increased roughly fourfold over the past decade. Palestinians are demanding more than just efforts to tackle organized crime; they accuse the Israeli government and law enforcement agencies of failing to address the broader crisis. They argue that official bodies have neglected Palestinian communities and, in some cases, created conditions that allow violence to flourish.
The rise in killings has continued since National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who has previously been convicted of offences related to incitement to racism against Arabs, assumed office in 2023.