'Mafia-Style Murder': Police Prepare Indictment in Killing of Three Young Men

Jerusalem, 12 November, 2026 (TPS-IL) — An innocent 16-year-old was among three young men allegedly lured to their deaths in a carefully planned criminal ambush. Now, following a 30-day investigation, Israeli police are preparing to indict a suspect in the brutal killings, while three additional suspects remain at large abroad.

The murders took place on the night of September 13, when police received a report of a vehicle on fire between Baqa al-Gharbiyye and Jatt. Upon arrival, officers discovered three bodies inside the car: two brothers and their cousin. The victims were identified as Yahya Alaa Basmi, 22; Qasem Azam Odeh, 20; and Yazan Azam Odeh, approximately 16.

According to investigators, the two adult victims were affiliated with the Odeh-Kutier criminal organization. The teenager, however, had no known connection to his brother’s alleged criminal activities. Investigators suspect that members of the rival Hariri criminal organization lured the three men to the area under the pretext of a friendly meeting before ambushing them.

The attack reportedly took place at approximately 3:00 a.m. The victims were allegedly shot before their vehicle was set on fire. Investigators believe they died from the fire rather than the initial gunfire. A police source described the attack to The Press Service of Israel as a “Mafia-style” execution.

The investigation was initially handled by officers from the Baqa al-Gharbiyye police station and the Coastal District’s Central Unit. It was subsequently transferred to Lahav 433’s National Unit for the Investigation of Serious and International Crime, a specialized police investigative unit.

Last month, investigators arrested a suspect, approximately 30 years old, in connection with the killings. Following a 30-day investigation, during which police gathered evidence against him, investigators submitted a prosecutor’s statement this morning, indicating that an indictment is expected tomorrow.

Police also reportedly have evidence against three additional suspects who, according to intelligence assessments, have fled abroad and are in hiding. “We will get to them, too,” the police source told TPS-IL

Lahav 433 commander Meni Benjamin described the killings as among the most brutal cases in recent years.

“This is one of the most brutal murders we have seen in recent years. We will continue to pursue these criminals, both within Israel and anywhere else in the world,” Benjamin said.

Since the beginning of the year, 190 Arab Israelis have been murdered, including 14 women.

The surging violence is widely attributed to organized crime groups engaged in turf wars and efforts to eliminate rivals. These networks are reported to be involved in extortion, money laundering, and the trafficking of weapons, drugs, and women.

Critics, including community activists and public figures, argue that the crime wave has worsened since Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right politician, became National Security Minister in 2022. Others attribute the trend to long-standing systemic enforcement gaps and entrenched criminal networks.