Violence in Israel’s Arab communities reaches record high in 2025 with over 250 killed

The year 2025 was the bloodiest year ever in Arab society, with 252 civilians killed, according to a year-end report published Sunday by "The Abraham Initiatives," an organization dedicated to equal rights and citizenship for Israel’s Jewish and Arab residents. The figure represents an increase of 22 fatalities compared to the previous year.

The Abraham Initiatives said that the high rate of crime and murders leads to a broad sense of insecurity among Israelis, not just among the Arab citizens. 

Since the coalition government took over, and particularly under the supervision of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, the number of deaths in the Arab sector has risen sharply compared to previous governments. In 2023, the death toll was more than double that recorded in 2022.

The cities of Nazareth and Lod led the list for the most dangerous cities, with Lod reporting 18 deaths in 2025. Most of the deaths are related to criminal violence, often cases of fighting between crime organizations or revenge killings. Over half of those killed (72%) were between the ages of 18 and 40, while just over half were between the ages of 18 and 30. In dozens of cases, victims were members of the same family, killed either in single incidents or as part of ongoing cycles of revenge.

The Abraham Initiatives report also found that 23 women were killed in the past year, the highest number since the reporting began. 

Additionally, the organization said that 12 of the deaths were at the hands of the Israel Police, but did not indicate the circumstances.

A new organization, Eilaf–The Center for Promoting Security in Arab Society, which began operating this year, published its first annual report on Sunday, and it was also bleak in its assessment of the levels of violence. 

"In 2025, the current government marked three years in office, and also the third consecutive year in which there has been a continuous increase in the scope of crime and violence in Arab society,” Eilaf wrote. “During this period, there has been a clear escalation: crime is becoming more violent, more open and more sophisticated, and criminal organizations are deepening their grip on the public space and the social fabric of Arab society, in Israel and even abroad.” 

The Eilaf report presented findings similar to those of the Abraham Initiatives, including an increase in multiple-victim murders, rising harm to women and young people – including the deaths of several children – the use of social networks to normalize criminal activity, and municipal governments being forced to operate under the influence of organized crime.

Eilaf also said that a series of legal amendments has created a two-tier legal system, with one set of standards applied to Arab society and another to Jewish society.

The organization singled out National Security Minister Ben Gvir, saying that his tenure has been characterized by "high-profile raids and public statements that did indeed create media visibility that was mainly inciting against Arab society.” 

The report's authors noted that some of the victims were those killed by police officers, but cited a lack of transparency regarding the circumstances. 

“Some of the cases occurred during planned enforcement operations, and some in situations of chases or casual encounters that escalated into shootings," they explained. "In each of these cases, difficult questions arise regarding the manner in which decisions were made on the ground, the level of risk posed to the forces, and whether all non-lethal alternatives were utilized before pulling the trigger.” 

The Abraham Initiatives also raised a similar concern, saying, "This data requires an in-depth investigation and full transparency, in order to ensure that this is not a dangerous norm of excessive use of force against Arab civilians.” 

In a statement, the Israel Police responded, "The murder data in the article also includes those cases in which police officers thwarted planned murders and eliminated criminals who were on their way to commit murder.” 

The Abraham Initiatives report concluded, "The numbers for 2025 are a serious indictment of the government, which is completely failing to address the crime and murder epidemic.” 

It noted as significant problems budget cuts, a lack of coordination and dialogue with Arab society, significantly low levels of crime detection, and poor prioritization of police tasks. 

“In order to stop the deterioration, the failed Minister of National Security must be replaced immediately and the challenge of crime and violence must begin to be tackled strategically, which includes both effective policing, prevention, and enforcement, as well as dealing with the root causes of crime,” the report stated. “We must not accept a reality in which blood is shed as a matter of routine. Arab lives are not in vain.”