Three family members were killed and one was injured on Saturday, June 26, in a shooting attack as they drove near the town of Eilabun in the Galilee. Yousef Jaroushi, 58, his 46-year-old wife Nawal, and their 16-year-old daughter Rayan were found shot dead in a vehicle near the Eilabun junction.

The scene of the shooting deaths of the Jaroushi family near the town of Eilabun in the Galilee, Saturday, June 26, 2021 (Photo: Al-Ittihad)

A 9-year-old girl was found by medics nearby, outside the car, suffering from gunshot wounds. “She was extremely agitated and was suffering from penetration wounds,” said paramedic Omri Hochman. “We afforded medical treatment while trying to calm her down.” The girl, in moderate condition, was evacuated to the Poriya Medical Center after being treated at the scene.

Initial reports indicate that the victims were residents of Ramle, who had moved to the town of Deir Hanna in the lower Galilee about a month ago.

Al-Ittihad and Zo Haderech reported that Joint List leader MK Ayman Odeh (Hadash) described the killings as “heartbreaking.” “Three more lives were lost, another family was torn to pieces and another girl was orphaned. How much more is possible?” Odeh said. “We must not wait for the next victim. We need an immediate plan to eradicate crime.”

Hadash MK Ofer Cassif (Joint List) reacted to the incident on Twitter. “A family was slaughtered, and a 9 year old was left alone,” he wrote. Cassif demanded that police pursue the murderers and their accomplices, and that “the police must stop ignoring organized crime in Arab society. They know where the weapons are and who the crime bosses are. These assassinations are not spontaneous, and are planned in advance.”

The National Committee of the Heads of the Arab Local Authorities called on the government to take action on the ongoing crises of violence in Arab communities. “Again the lawlessness is rampant and, once again, weapons in the hands of criminals cost human lives. The new government must bring justice and stop the madness immediately,” the statement read. Ending the spread of violence and organized crime is a major priority for Arab-Palestinians in Israel. In 2020, 96 Arab citizens were killed in violent crimes, by far the highest annual toll in recent memory. Since January 1, 2021, 47 have died violent, criminally related deaths.

Related: Posts on rampant violent crime in Arab-Palestinian communities in Israel