Couple, Teen Daughter Shot Dead In Car; 8-Year-Old Girl Wounded

A couple and their teenage daughter were killed Saturday in an alleged drive-by shooting in northern Israel. Police said the motive was likely criminal-related.

Yousef Jarushi, 58, his 46-year-old wife and their 16-year-old daughter were found shot dead inside a vehicle near the town of Ailabun, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported, citing members of Israel's national emergency medical service, Magen David Adom.

The couple's 8-year-old daughter was outside the car during the attack and was wounded in the shooting, according to the outlet. She was treated by responding medics at the scene for her injuries and for shock.

The young girl was taken to a hospital in the city of Tiberias and is reportedly in moderate condition, the Times of Israel reported.

The couple, teen and young girl were a family from the central Israeli city of Ramle who moved to the town of Deir Hanna about a month ago, according to Haaretz.

According to the outlet, police said they suspect couple and their teenage daughter were shot from a passing car. A torched vehicle with a rifle was found near the scene of the shooting, the Kan public broadcaster reported.

Police suspect that the attack was an act of retaliation tied to a power struggle within the Jarushi crime family, Haaretz reported.

Public Security Minister Omer Barlev called on the government to raise efforts to curb the violence in Israel’s Arab community.

“The shootings and murders are just the tip of the iceberg… Comprehensive solutions that pertain to many areas are required,” Barlev said in a statement obtained by Times of Israel.

His call was echoed by Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas, who branded the shooting “upsetting and shameful” as “criminals don’t differentiate between their targets and family members.” He stated that the government will do its part in trying to curb the violence.

Joint List leader MK Ayman Odeh described the deaths as “heartbreaking” in a social media post.

“Three more lives were lost, another family was torn to pieces and another girl was orphaned. How much more is possible?” Odeh tweeted. “We must not wait for the next victim. We need an immediate plan to eradicate crime.”