Israeli police kill Palestinian citizen in Negev raid amid Ben Givr 'incitement' Submitted by Mera Aladam on Sun, 01/04/2026 - 11:17 Killing comes after nearly two weeks of police crackdowns in Palestinian town Family of Mohammed Hussein al-Tarabin, a father of seven, say he was killed in 'cold blood' by Israeli police (X) Off Israeli police killed a Palestinian citizen in the Negev late on Saturday, following days of violent raids and what residents described as "incitement" by minister Itamar Ben Gvir. According to his family, Mohammed Hussein al-Tarabin, 35, was shot dead by police after opening the door of his home during an arrest raid in Tirabin al-Sana. The family said Tarabin, a father of seven, was killed "in cold blood". In an initial statement, Israeli police said that Tarabin had "endangered officers during the operation" and was subsequently shot. It added he was a suspect in the torching of cars in nearby Jewish villages. His family denied the allegations. Tarabin's 11-year-old son, who witnessed the killing, said: "They knocked on the door. I was awake. My father opened it, and immediately they shot him in the chest." He added: "They dragged my father to the balcony, removed his trousers, and began searching the house while he was lying on the floor. After that, they cleaned the blood from the living room at the entrance." Ben Gvir, Israel's national security minister who oversees the police, backed the officers and said it was "right" that Tarabin was killed. "I commend the fighters who took action; they have my full backing," he said on X . The officer who shot Tarabin has since been interrogated on suspicion of unlawful shooting and released to five days of house arrest, while an internal police investigation has been launched. For nearly two weeks, the village of Tirabin al-Sana has faced a police crackdown targeting Palestinian citizens of Israel , including raids, arrests, fines and orders to demolish homes. Palestinian citizens of Israel are the descendants of the native residents of Palestine who were not expelled during the 1948 Nakba , when Zionist gangs expelled most Palestinians from their homeland to create of the state of Israel. Although formally citizens of Israel, they continue to face inequality, discrimination and repression. 'Siege and collective punishment' The campaign in Tirabin al-Sana - described as an effort to restore "sovereignty" and "law and order" - has been spearheaded by Ben Gvir, who has joined police raids three times in the past two weeks. Palestinian citizens of Israel accuse him of inciting violence and using provocative raids in the town to bolster his electoral support. The High Follow-Up Committee, an umbrella group representing Palestinian citizens of Israel, strongly condemned the killing. Palestinians face violence on the streets of Israel as racist attacks spread Read More » It called for an end to the "raids, siege and collective punishment" in Tirabin al-Sana, adding that the killing "exposed the falsehood of the claims" made by Israeli police that they were fighting crime. "The police are the ones committing crime and violence, carrying out an unprecedented campaign of intimidation, terror and revenge," the committee said in a statement. "The issue is not just about Ben Gvir, but about the position of [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and the establishment in general, which does not recognise human rights when it comes to the Arab citizen." Jamal Zahalka, the committee's head, condemned Ben Gvir for backing the killing. "As usual, the fascist minister Itamar Ben Gvir issued a statement supporting the killing and the killers, repeating the familiar falsehood that police officers' lives were in danger," he said. Zahalka added that Tarabin, a father of seven who owned a shop, was innocent, rejecting the police claims against him. He accused police of "committing a deliberate killing", saying: "Their approach is bloody, and they do not wish to end their campaign in Tirabin al-Sana until blood is shed." Inside Israel News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0