The Arab sector High Monitoring Committee on Shabbos announced the Arab sector on Sunday 16 Marcheshvan, the Arab community will observe the day as a general strike after Kahair Hamdan was shot dead during the night (Friday to Saturday) by a Sakhnin policeman. The funeral for Hamdan was held on Saturday night at 19:00 in the community cemetery. Thousands attended the funeral.

The initial investigation reveals the dead man tried to stab the police officer while he was making an arrest in the community. There is confusion surrounding the reports but policeman appear to have neglected to mention they were in a police vehicle when the attempted stabbing attack occurred.

Ynet reports it obtained an area surveillance video which should Hamdan approaching the police car with four policemen inside. He began striking the windshield of the vehicle with a knife. As some of the policemen got out of the car, Hamdan stepped back. One of the policeman then fired several shots at him, wounding him. They then placed Hamdan into the car and transferred to MDA paramedics and he was transported to HaEmek Hospital in Afula where he was pronounced dead.

The Police Internal Investigations Department at the State Attorney General’s Office has opened a probe into the fatal incident.

Police report they first fired in the air and then fired at him when they felt threatened. It appears the video footage does not support the police report.

Earlier in the day over 5,000 persons in Kfar Kana in the Lower Galil to protest following the death of the 22-year-old community resident. The protesters carried anti-Israel signs including “We will redeem it in blood”, “Zionists, get out of our lives” and “We will sacrifice ourselves for al-Aqsa”.

At the entrance to the community dozens of Arab youths burned tires and threw firebombs at police. Three arrests were made. B’chasdei Hashem there were no fatalities of serious injuries to police.

Rioting was reported in the Shuafat area on motzei Shabbos. Police were forced to use teargas and rubber-coated bullets. Arab also targeted the light rail with stones, smashing windows.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)